132 MUNGO PARK'S 
I found one of the asses with a load of gunpowder, th^ 
driver (Dickinson) being unable to proceed (I never heard 
of him afterwards) ; and shortly after the sick man dis- 
mounted from my horse, and laid down by a small pool of 
water, refusing to rise. Drove the ass and horse on before 
me. Passed a number of sick. At half past twelve o'clock 
Mr. Anderson declared he could ride no farther. Took 
him down and laid him in the shade of a bush, and sat 
down beside him. At half past two o'clock he made ano- 
ther attempt to proceed ; but had not rode above an hun- 
dred yards before I had to take him down from the saddle, 
and lay him again in the shade. I now gave up all thoughts 
of being able to carry him forwards till the cool of the 
evening; and having turned the horses and ass to feed, I 
sat down to watch the pulsations of my dying friend. At 
four o'clock four of the sick came up ; three of them 
agreed to take charge of the ass with the gunpowder ; and 
I put a fourth, who had a sore leg, on my horse, telling him 
if he saw Mr. Scott on the road to give him the horse. 
At half past five o'clock, there being a fine breeze from 
the South West ; Mr. Anderson agreed to make another 
attempt, and having again placed him on the saddle, I 
led the horse on pretty smartly in hopes of reaching Koo- 
raikoomi before dark. We had not proceeded above a 
mile, before we heard on our left a noise very much lik^ 
