484 



A NATURALIST'S WANDEJilNGS 



ttire so far in the moming^ — tlie only time I bad a little sttengtli 

 — in the very high winds that prevailed. It is one phase of 

 these fevers that when an attack lias passed a great faintness 

 comes on, which even a mouthful of food or drink will relieve. 

 I never fully realised the boon of sick-room attentions till I had 

 to rouse myseliat tbese faint moments to cook the only available 

 food I could take— rice-water. But the oil in my small lamp at 

 last was done, and I was unable to go to the store to refill it. 

 For some days I must have been delirioua ; during the nights I 

 tossed in my sweat-soaked garments, sometimes able to reach 

 out for dry ones, sometimes not;* but, more than from all the 

 discomfort and weakness, I snfferod from the terrible stfllness. 

 Undisturbed, the rats played in wdd riot through my hut during 

 the day, and in the night gnawed everything gnawable^ — ^some- 

 times they even attempted to penetrate inside my mosquito 

 curtains, within which I bad dragged my store of rice. So 

 ferocious were they tbat I saw tbem seize a parrot on a tree 

 which overshadowed the hut, which they brought to the 

 verandah and devoured there, while the feathers scattered in 

 the wind, I shuddered to think bow H. would find me if 1 

 shonbl die before be returned or help should come. A passing 

 lad— whom I sighted through the bamboo slits of the but — I 

 called to me, bribing bim by coin after coin to ttirry a note to 

 the Palace beggiug for medicLne and aid. Just as be at last 

 consented, after much dubitation, and the most urgent 

 entreaty on my part, it began to rain [rain is always abhorred 

 by the natives], which made him hesitate in his purpose — a 

 tcrriblii moment for me; but, espying my open parasol in a 

 comer, he seized it and marched oiL I don't know whether my 

 hilarity in my utter prostration was more at the ludicrous figure 

 be cut, his only wettable garment being his loin-cloth, or in 

 hysterical and delighted anticipation of obtaining help at last." 



As good fortune would have it, this lad met a messenger 

 from Jladame da Pranfji;, who had become anxious at A.'s long 

 silence, on his way to inquire for her, I'hc news of her stat^j 

 brought at once the doctor and a friend who instantly re- 

 turned for an ambulatice. Though the afternoon was fur gone 

 before it arrived the descent was at once begun. The carriers 

 struggled on while daylight lasted — one short hour; then, 

 owiug tt the steepness of the road and the darkness of the 



