484 A NATURALIST'S WANDERINGS 



ture so far in the morning — the only time I had a little strength 

 — in the very high winds that prevailed. It is one phase of 

 these fevers that when an attack has passed a great faintness 

 comes on, which even a mouthful of food or drink will relieve. 

 I never fully realised the boon of sick-room attentions till I had 

 to rouse myself at these faint moments to cook the only available 

 food I could take — rice-water. But the oil in my small lamp at 

 last was done, and I was unable to go to the store to refill it. 

 For some days I must have been delirious ; during the nights I 

 tossed in my sweat-soaked garments, sometimes able to reach 

 out for dry ones, sometimes not ; but, more than from all the 

 discomfort and weakness, I suffered from the terrible stillness. 

 Undisturbed, the rats played in wild riot through my hut during 

 the day, and in the night gnawed everything gnawable — some- 

 times they even attempted to penetrate inside my mosquito 

 curtains, within which I had dragged my store of rice. So 

 ferocious were they that I saw them seize a parrot on a tree 

 which overshadowed the hut, which they brought to the 

 verandah and devoured there, while the feathers scattered in 

 the wind. I shuddered to think how H. would find me if I 

 should die before he returned or help should come. A passing 

 lad — whom I sighted through the bamboo slits of the hut — I 

 called to me, bribing him by coin after coin to carry a note to 

 the Palace begging for medicine and aid. Just as he at last 

 consented, after much dubitation, and the most urgent 

 entreaty on my part, it began to rain [rain is always abhorred 

 by the natives], which made him hesitate in his purpose — a 

 terrible moment for me; but, espying my open parasol in a 

 corner, he seized it and marched off. I don't know whether my 

 hilarity in my utter prostration was more at the ludicrous figure 

 he cut, his only wettable garment being his loin-cloth, or in 

 hysterical and delighted anticipation of obtaining help at last." 

 As good fortune would have it, this lad met a messenger 

 from Madame da Franpa, who had become anxious at A.'s long 

 silence, on his way to inquire for her. The news of her state 

 brought at once the doctor and a friend who instantly re- 

 turned for an ambulance. Though the afternoon was far gone 

 before it arrived the descent was at once begun. The carriers 

 struggled on while daylight lasted — one short hour; then, 

 owing to the steepness of the road and the darkness of the 



