414 RHEUMATIC FEVER. 



we ascended from the Cassange valley, we had entered, 

 but on the 19th of April the intermittent, which had. 

 begun on the 16th of March, was changed into an ex« 

 tremely severe attack of rheumatic fever. This was 

 brought on by being obliged to sleep on an extensive 

 plain covered with water. The rain poured down inces- 

 santly, but we formed our beds by dragging up the earth 

 into oblong mounds, somewhat like graves in a country 

 churchyard, and then placing grass upon them. The 

 rain continuing to deluge us, we were unable to leave for 

 two days, but as soon as it became fair we continued our 

 march. The heavy dew upon the high grass was so cold 

 as to cause shivering, and I was forced to he by for eight 

 days, tossing and groaning with violent pain in the head. 

 This was the most severe attack I had endured. It made 

 me quite unfit to move, or even know what was passing 

 outside my little tent. Senhor Pascoal, who had been 

 detained by the severe rain at a better spot, at last came 

 up, and, knowing that leeches ab©unded in the rivulets,, 

 procured a mrmber, and applied some dozens to the nape 

 of the neck and the loins. This partially relieved the 

 pain. He was then obliged to move forward, in order 

 to purchase food for his large party. After many days 

 I began to recover, and wished to move on, but my men 

 objected to the attempt on account of my weakness. 

 When Senhor Pascoal had been some time at the village 

 in front, as he had received instructions from his employer 

 Captain Neves to aid me as much as possible, and being 

 himself a kindly-disposed person, he sent back two mes- 

 sengers to invite me to come on, if practicable. 



It happened that the head-man of the village where I 

 had lain twenty-two days, while bargaining and quarrelling 

 in my camp for a piece of meat, had been struck on the 

 mouth by one of my men, My principal men paid five 

 pieces of cloth and a gun as an atonement ; but the more 

 they yielded, the more exorbitant he became, and he sent 

 word to all the surrounding villages to aid him in avenging 

 the affront of a blow on the beard. As their courage 

 usually rises with success, I resolved to yield no more, 

 and departed. In passing through a forest in the country 

 beyond, we were startled by a body of men rushing after 

 us. They began by knocking down the burdens of the 

 hindermost of my men, and several shots were fired, each 

 party spreading out on both sides of the path. I for- 



