82 LIVINGSTONE'S LAST JOURNALS. [Chap. III. 



sensible of what they were doing ; the groaning ceased, 

 though he became worse. 



Three sepoys played at groaning very vigorously outside 

 my door ; they had nothing the matter with them, except 

 perhaps fatigue, which we all felt alike ; as these fellows 

 prevented my sleeping, I told them quite civilly that, if so 

 ill that they required to groan, they had better move off a 

 little way, as I could not sleep ; they preferred the verandah, 

 and at once forbore. 



The abundance of grain and other food is accompanied by 

 great numbers of rats or large mice, which play all manner 

 of pranks by night ; white ants have always to be guarded 

 against likewise. Anyone who would find an antidote to 

 drive them away would confer a blessing ; the natural check 

 is the driver ant, which when it visits a house is a great pest 

 for a time, but it clears the others out. 



