PARTY ATTACKED BY FEVER. 89 



ligiilful scene, — all the ponds full of water, and the birds 

 twittering joyfully. As the game can now obtain water 

 everywhere, they become very shy, and cannot be found 

 in their accustomed haunts. 



1st Mirch. — The thermometer in the shade generally 

 stood at 98° from 1 to 3 p.m.; but it sank as low as 65° by 

 night; to that the heat was by no means exhausting. At 

 the suri ice of the ground, in the sun, the thermometer 

 marked 125°, and, three inches below it, 138°. The hand 

 cannot 1 e held on the ground, and even the horny soles of 

 the feet of the natives must be protected by sandals of 

 hide ; yet the ants were busy working on it. The water 

 in the ponds was as high as 100° ; but, as water does not 

 conduct heat readily downward, deliciously-cool water 

 may be obtained by any one walking into the middle and 

 lifting up the water from the bottom to the surface with 

 his hands. 



Proceeding to the north, from Kama-kama, we entered 

 into dense Mohonono bush, which required the constant 

 application of the axe by three of our party for two days. 

 This bush has fine silvery leaves, and the bark has a sweet 

 taste. The elephant, with his usual delicacy of taste, feeds 

 much on it. On emerging into the plains beyond, we found 

 a number of Bushmen, who afterward proved very service- 

 able. The rains had been copious ; but now great numbers 

 of pools were drying up. Lotus-plants abounded in them, 

 and a low, sweet-scented plant covered their banks. 

 Breezes came occasionally to us from these drying- up 

 pools ; but the pleasant odor they carried caused sneezing 

 in both myself and people ; and on the 10th of March (when 

 in lat. 19° 16' 11" S., long. 24° 24' E.) we were brought 

 to a stand by four of the party being seized with fever. 

 I had seen this disease before, but did not at once recognise 

 it as the African fever : I imagined it was only a bilious 

 attack arising from full feeding on flesh; for, the large 

 game having been very abundant, we always had a good 

 supply. But, instead of the first, sufferers recovering soon, 



