PREFACE. 
XV 
did not know himself what was his illness. Mr. 
Richardson never could bear the sun, and the sun being 
very powerful at this time of the year, it must have 
affected him very much. I think this to be the chief 
reason of his death ; at least, he seems not to have had 
a regular fever. He was happy to reach the large town 
of Rangarvia after a journey of three short days, and 
had the intention of returning from here directly to 
Tripoli, without touching at Kuka and the low, hot 
plain of Bornou, which he was affrightened of very 
much. He offered two hundred mahboubs for a guide 
to conduct him directly to the road to Bilma ; but there 
being no road from here, and no guide having been 
found, it was necessary first to go to Kuka. 
"Mr. B^ichardson, therefore, seems to have taken 
strong medicines ; in consequence of which, in the even- 
ing of the third day of their halt at Rangarvia, after 
having taken a walk through the town, he felt well euough 
to fix his outset for the next morning. But this day being 
rather a long one, and the sun being very powerful, he 
became very tired and unwell ; and the more so as, not- 
withstanding his illness, he had not left off drinking 
milk, even on his camel, mixing some brandy with it. 
Having recovered a little during the night, he moved on 
the next morning, but ordered a halt about noon, on 
account of his weakness. Having started again at sun- 
set, they encamped at midnight. The next day, after 
a short journey, they reached the Wady Mettaka. Mr. 
Richardson seemed to feel much better, and drank milk 
and a little jura, besides rice. From this place, on the last 
