SUFFERINGS 



OF 



THE BRITISH. 



479 



which had carried away some of their toes, 

 and which threatened others with the total 

 loss of feet, or legs. These ulcers were 

 brought on by general debility of body, 

 from bad food, from jiggers, from having 

 to march barefooted sometimes whole days 

 together, over plains covered with the sensi- 

 tive plant, the thorns of which buried them- 

 selves in the soles of their feet ; or from the 

 feet and legs, after wading rivers, being ex- 

 posed wet to the scorching heat of the sun. 

 These persons were obliged to be left in the 

 small villages through which the army occa- 

 sionally passed. All were now barefooted, 

 and almost naked, for few had more than a 

 jacket and cap, and many were entirely with- 

 out blankets ; as they had, during the time 

 the dysentery was upon them, either thrown 

 away, or bartered for a little tobacco or per- 

 haps water, all their spare necessaries, or 

 had been robbed of them by their expert 

 and necessitous companions. Thus, in four 



