AFRICA. 203 
health ; or that I was obliged to pay tribute 
to thefe new climates, and that the temperature 
of them made a powerful impreflion on my 
coriftitution — I was often attacked by fudden 
ficknefs, and haunted with the gloomy idea 
that 1 fliould leave my afhes at the diftance of 
two tl^oufknd leagues from my family. My 
imagin^ion, too lively, ilill exaggerated this 
misfortuhe ; and I gave way to deje£tion and 
defpair. The moft difmal melancholy took 
polTellion of my mind ; for I now faw myfelf 
in reality Hopped in my progrefs. I was 
affli(3:ed with violent head-aches, an extraor- 
dinary heavinefs, and a general uneafmefs, that 
feemed to announce very ferious danger. This 
was the only event I dreaded when I fet out. 
I found it would be neceffary for me to flop, 
that I might recruit my ftrength : and I at 
laft formed my refolution ; convinced that the 
moft acute diforder muft here, as well as 
amidft the phyficians noftrums, take a fa- 
vourable turn, or relieve the patient by death. 
I dragged myfelf along, therefore, as well 
as I could, and took a curfory view of the 
environs. Having obferved an agreeable fitu- 
ation for my camp, in the neighbourhood of 
^ fmall rivulet, I ordered my tents to be eredl- 
