INTERIOR OF AFRICA. 249 
child ! I could not get this melancholy subject out of my mind, 
and the next night, when the women returned for their allow- 
ance, I desired the boy to point out to me his mother, which he 
did. She was much emaciated, but had nothing cruel or savage 
in her countenance ; and when she had received her corn, she 
came and talked to her son, with as much cheerfulness as if he 
had still been under her care. 
Sept. 6th. Two people arrived from Sibidooloo, bringing 
with them my horse and clothes ; but I found that my pocket 
compass was broken to pieces. This was a great loss, which I 
could not repair. 
Sept. 7th. As my horse was grazing near the brink of a 
well, the ground gave way, and he fell in. The well was 
about ten feet diameter, and so very deep, that when I saw my 
horse snorting in the water, I thought it was impossible to save 
him. The inhabitants of the village, however, immediately 
assembled, and having tied together a number of withes,* 
they lowered a man down into the well, who fastened those 
withes round the body of the horse ; and the people, having 
first drawn up the man, took hold of the withes, and to 
my surprise pulled the horse out with the greatest facility: 
The poor animal was now reduced to a mere skeleton, and the 
roads were scarcely passable, being either very rocky, or else 
full of mud and water ; I therefore found it impracticable to 
travel with him any farther, and was happy to leave him in the 
hands of one who I thought would take care of him. I accord- 
ingly presented him to my landlord ; and desired him to send 
* From a plant called halba, that climbs like a vine upon the trees. 
Kk 
