NATIVE REMEDIES, 10& 



■when it was boiling, placed it on a spot beneath a blanket 

 thrown around both me and it. This produced no im- 

 mediate effect : he then got a small bundle of different 

 kinds of medicinal woods, and, burning them in a potsherd 

 nearly to ashes, used the smoke and hot vapor arising from 

 them as an auxiliary to the other in causing diaphoresis. 

 I fondly hoped that they had a more potent remedy than 

 our own medicines afford; but after being stewed in their 

 vapor-baths, smoked like a red herring over green twigs, 

 and charmed secundum artem, I concluded that I could cure 

 the fever more quickly than they can. If we employ a wet 

 sheet and a mild aperient in combination with quinine, in 

 addition to the native remedies, they are an important aid 

 in curing the fever, as they seem to have the same stimu- 

 lating effects on the alimentary canal as these means have 

 on the external surface. Purgatives, general bleeding, or 

 indeed any violent remedies, are injurious; and the ap- 

 pearance of a herpetic eruption near the mouth is regarded 

 as an evidence that no internal organ is in danger. There 

 is a good deal in not "giving in" to this disease. He who 

 is low-spirited, and apt to despond at every attack, will die 

 sooner than the man who is not of such a melancholic nature. 

 The Makololo had made a garden and planted maize for 

 me, that, as they remarked when I was parting with them 

 to proceed to the Cape, I might have food to eat when I 

 returned, as well as other people. The maize was now 

 pounded by the women into fine meal. This they do in 

 large wooden mortars, the counterpart of which may be 

 seen depicted on the Egyptian monuments. Sekeletu added 

 to this good supply of meal ten or twelve jars of honey, 

 each of which contained about two gallons. Liberal sup- 

 plies of groundnuts were also furnished every time the 

 tributary tribes brought their dues to Linyanti, and an ox 

 was given for slaughter every week or two. Sekeletu also 

 appropriated two cows to be milked for us every morning 

 and evening. This was in accordance with the acknow- 

 ledged rule throughout the country, that the chief should 



