190 
TRAVELS IN NORTHERN AFRICA. 
CHAP. IV. 
for three or four days, without taking any nourishment or even 
speaking to us, Mr. Ritchie became worse, and at last delirious, 
as in his former illnesses. In the interval, my disorder having 
abated, I was enabled to rally a little, and to attend my poor suf- 
fering companion. 
After he had somewhat recovered his intellect, he appeared 
very anxious to know whether any letters had arrived, announcing 
to us a further allowance of money from Government ; but when I, 
unfortunately, was obliged to reply in the negative, he avoided aU 
comment on the subject. He would not drink any tea, of which 
we still had some remaining ; but preferred vinegar and water, our 
only acid, which he drank in great quantities. Being entirely free 
from pain, he flattered himself that he should, in a day or two, re- 
cover, particularly as he was not at all emaciated, but rather stouter 
than he had been for some months previous to his illness. One day 
(the 17th) he appeared so far recovered as to be able to get up and 
be dressed. We placed him on the mat in the centre of the room, 
when he seemed much refreshed, and thanked us for the trouble 
we had taken ; he then expressed a wish to have a httle coffee, 
which, for a time, I was unwiUing to give him, fearing it might 
injure him : he was, however, so earnest in his request, that I was 
obliged at last to comply with it. As he complained of the close- 
ness of his room, and appeared determined on lying that night on 
the mat, we made his bed on it ; and I laid myself down by him. 
In the afternoon he examined his tongue in the glass, and appeared 
a good deal alarmed at its colour ; but presently said, " I was 
frightened at the blackness of my tongue, but now recollect I have 
been drinking coffee ; had I observed that appearance without 
knowing the cause, I should have said I had a bilious fever, and 
should bid you good bye." In the evening one or two of the 
Mamlukes came in ; he spoke to them for a httle while, and soon 
