46 . THE "TICK." 



suspended in the air, and to have no connection with 

 the earth below. We dropped our anchor in this 

 smoothest of harbours, where no wind could move the 

 ship. As we were within a few yards of the shore, we 

 soon received visits from several residents, who came to 

 the vessel for the latest news. 



I was so ill when I landed, on account of the confine- 

 ment on board and our bad provisions, that I was obliged 

 to remain in bed for several days at the miserable 

 " hotel " of the village : I was kindly attended by the 

 resident surgeon of the troops, under whose skilful hands 

 I soon recovered. 



Having regained health and strength, I began to look 

 out for a horse, but had great difficulty in getting all that 

 I required ; at length an animal was offered me at a rea- 

 sonable price, and he became my property. He merely 

 served for riding about in the deep sandy roads near, 

 or for saving me from the persecution of a little animal 

 called a " tick," whose armies were quartered upon every 

 blade of grass and leaf of tree. On the first oppor- 

 tunity these little creatures transferred their adhesive 

 qualities, with great delight, to the most retired situa- 

 tions of a newly-arrived victim ; there they would bury 

 themselves under the skin, and before their invasion could 

 be discovered, produced an irritation and a sore that 

 enlarged with great rapidity and became a serious evil. 



A thorough inspection and frequent bathing were the 

 two best antidotes; the leaf of the Kaffir gooseberry I 

 also found very effective ; it should be bruised, laid over 

 the part bitten, and held on by wrappers of linen. 



