72 SERIOUS ACCIDENTS. 



y 



among the sandy hillocks ; but soon the broad 

 and level plain opened before us. We had 

 hardly left the river's side, however, when we 

 experienced a delay of some hours, in conse- 

 quence of an accident which came very nigh 

 proving fatal to a French doctor of our com- 

 pany. Fearful lest his stout top-heavy dear- 

 born should upset wliilst skirting the slope of 

 a hill, he placed himself below in order to 

 sustaui it with Ms hands. But, in spite of aU 

 his exertions, the carriage tumbled over, crush- 

 ing and mashing him most frightfully. He 

 was taken out senseless, and but httle hopes 

 ^QTQ at first entertained of his recovery. 

 Having revived, however, soon after, we were 

 enabled to resume our march ; and, in tlie 



course of tune, die wounded patient entuely 

 recovered. 



The next day we fortunately had a hea^y 

 shower, which afforded us abundance of 

 water. Having also swerved considerably to- 

 ward the south, we fell into a more uneven 

 section of country, where we had 'to cross a 

 brook swelled by the recent rain, into wliich 

 one of the wagons was unfortunately over- 

 set. Tlus, however, was not a very uncom- 

 mon occurrence; for unruly oxen, when 

 thirsty, wiU often rush into a pool in despite 

 of the driver, dragging the wagon over every 

 object m then: way, at the imminent risk of 

 turnmg it topsy-turvy mto the water. We 

 were now compelled to make a halt, and all 

 hands flocked to the assistance of the owner 

 of the damaged cargo. In a few mmutes 



