350 MORE TROUBLES. Chap. XVIIT. 



Pitsane, Mohorisi, and I, who alone were mounted, were often 

 caught ; and as there is no stopping the oxen when they have 

 the prospect of giving the rider a tumble, we came frequently 

 to the ground. In addition to these mishaps, Sinbad went off 

 at a plunging gallop, the bridle broke, and I came down back- 

 wards on the crown of my head. He gave me a kick on the 

 thigh at the same time. I felt none the worse for this rough 

 treatment, but would not recommend it to others as a palliative 

 in cases of fever! This last attack of fever was so obstinate 

 that it reduced me almost to a skeleton. The blanket which I 

 used as a saddle on the back of the ox, being frequently wet, 

 remained so beneath me even in the hot sun, and, aided by the 

 heat of the ox, caused extensive abrasion of the skin, which was 

 continually healing and getting sore again. To this incon- 

 venience was now added the chafing of my projecting bones on 

 the hard bed. 



On Friday we came to a village of civil people on the banks 

 of the Loajima itself, and we were wet all day in consequence of 

 crossing it. The bridges over it, and another stream which we 

 crossed at mid-day, were submerged, as we have hitherto in- 

 variably found, by a flood of perfectly clear water. At the second 

 ford we were met by a hostile party who refused us further 

 passage. I ordered my men to proceed in the same direction we 

 had been pursuing, but our enemies spread themselves out in 

 front of us with loud cries. Our numbers were about equal to 

 theirs this time, so I moved on at the head of my men. Some ran 

 off to other villages, or back to their own village, on pretence of 

 getting ammunition ; others called out that all traders came to 

 them, and that we must do the same. As these people had plenty 

 of non-headed arrows and some guns, when we came to the edge 

 of the forest I ordered my men to put the luggage in our centre ; 

 and, if our enemies did not fire, to cut down some young trees 

 and make a screen as quickly as possible, but do nothing to them 

 except in case of actual attack. I then dismounted, and, advancing 

 a little towards our principal opponent, showed him how easily 

 I could kill him, but pointed upwards, saying, " I fear God." 

 He did the same, placing his hand on his heart, pointing up- 

 wards, and saying, " I fear to kill ; but come to our village ; come 

 — do come." At this juncture, the old headman, Tonga Panza, a 



