298 



SEKELETU'S HEALTH IMPEOVED. Chap. XIV. 



killed by a serpent. We have often heard of animals being so 

 killed ; but in a twenty-two years' residence in the country, 

 Dr. Livingstone has only met with one case in which the 

 bite was fatal to a human being. Ipecacuanha mixed with 

 ammonia, and rubbed into the wound, is much esteemed 

 in India. A key, pressed" on the puncture for some time, 

 extracts the poison ; and when ipecacuanha is not at hand, 

 a little powder ignited on the spot will do instead. Very 

 large herds of kualatas were seen on the plains, and many 

 black bucks, though their habitat is generally on the hills.* 



Sekeletu's health improved greatly during our visit, the 

 melancholy foreboding left his spirits, and he became cheer- 

 ful, but resolutely refused to leave his den, and appear in 

 public till he was perfectly cured, and had regained what he 

 considered his good looks. He also feared lest some of those 

 who had bewitched him originally might still be among the 

 people, and neutralize our remedies.t 



As we expected another steamer to be at Kongone in 



* A female kualata (Aigoceros 

 equina) shot here measured — 



ft. in. 



At withers 4 8 



Entire length 6 3 



Length of horn 2 2 



Half circumference at chest 2 8 

 These measurements may be inte- 

 resting to those who try to accli- 

 matize animals. The elands in Eng- 

 land are small. One we measured 

 in Africa in 1849 was six feet four 

 inches at the withers, and it seemed 

 an animal of only ordinary size. Its 

 power of taking on fat, and the 

 quantity of fluid found in its stomach 

 in the driest season, are quite remark- 

 able. It browses chiefly on the 

 leaves of trees. 



t It was with sorrow that we learned 

 by a letter from Mr. Moffat, in 1864, 



that poor Sekeletu was dead. As will 

 be mentioned further on, men were 

 sent with us to bring up more medi- 

 cine. They preferred to remain on 

 the Shire, and, as they were free men, 

 we could do no more than try and per- 

 suade them to hasten back to their 

 chief with iodine and other remedies. 

 They took the parcel, but there being 

 only two real Makololo among them, 

 these could neither return themselves 

 alone nor force their attendants to 

 leave a part of the country where 

 they were independent, and could 

 support themselves with ease. Seke- 

 letu, however, lived long enough to 

 receive and acknowledge goods to 

 the value of 50Z., sent, in lieu of 

 those which remained in Tette, by 

 Kobert Moffat, jun., since dead. 



