236 the "asthmatic" grounded. Chap. IX. 



took her on board, bandaged the limb as well as they 

 could, and, not thinking of any better way of showing 

 their sympathy, gave her a glass of rum, and carried her 

 to a hut in the village. Next morning they found the 

 bandages torn off, and the unfortunate creature left to die. 

 " I believe," remarked Eowe, one of the sailors, " her 

 master was angry with us for saving her life, seeing as 

 how she had lost her leg." 



The Zambesi being unusually low, we remained at 

 Tette till it rose a little, and then left on the 3rd of 

 December for the Kongone. It was hard work to keep the 

 vessel afloat ; indeed, we never expected her to remain 

 above water. New leaks broke out every day ; the engine 

 pump gave way ; the bridge broke down ; three compart- 

 ments filled at night ; except the cabin and front compart- 

 ment all was flooded ; and in a few days we were assured 

 by Eowe that " she can't be worse than she is, sir." He 

 and Hutchins had spent much of their time, while we 

 were away, in patching her bottom, puddling it with clay, 

 and shoring it, and it was chiefly to please them that we 

 again attempted to make use of her. We had long been 

 fully convinced that the steel plates were thoroughly 

 unsuitable. On the morning of the 21st the uncomfortable 

 " Asthmatic " grounded on a sandbank and filled. She 

 could neither be emptied nor got off. The river rose 

 during the night, and all that was visible of the worn-out 

 craft next day was about six feet of her two masts. Most 

 of the property we had on board was saved ; and we spent 

 the Christmas of 1860 encamped on the island of Chimba. 

 Canoes were sent for from Senna ; and we reached it on 

 the 27th, to be again hospitably entertained by our friend, 

 Senhor Ferrao. 



We reached the Kongone on the 4th of January, 1861. 

 A flagstaff and a Custom-house had been erected during 

 our absence ; a hut, also, for a black lance-corporal and 



