98 
Seven Years in Central Africa. 
[May, 
thorn bushes. I managed with difficulty to retain my hat, but 
the bandage I had round my eyes was left in the thorns. At 
last I sent the ox about his business and lay down quite out of 
breath, and, I fear, sadly out of temper. Some of the carriers 
came to urge me on, but it was of no use, till a female slave, 
carrying some provisions on her head, gave me a cool drink and 
some coarse bread, which sent me on my journey, moralizing on 
the superior humanity of women. 
May \2th. — My own ox was secured this morning, and I got 
on much better with him. Started from Kakap long before cock- 
crow (Senhor Porto carries a cock with him to crow), and early 
in the day we reached Osore, a lake of considerable size, and 
camped there. My eyes are gradually getting better through 
the constant application of poultices of ox-dung heated in a pan. 
My road all the way to Bihe is the same that Major Serpa 
Pinto, the Portuguese traveller took, but in the reverse direction. 
13//?. — Crossed a deep running river, on the shoulders of a 
stout Bihe porter, and camped by the Nyengo. 
\\th. — Passed through much water on the Nyengo flat, my ox 
swimming bravely with me on his back. Camped at Relva. 
Mode of Crossing River on Ox .back. 
