THE AUTHOR'S ILLNESS. 
151 
mind of an African chief — have had the road opened 
to us. 
The following account of my own ailments I give, 
not with a wish to parade them, but in order to con- 
vey information : — Having had fevers twice a-month, 
in December my usual complaint assumed a new 
form. The right leg, from above the knee, became 
deformed with inflammation, and remained for a 
month in this unaccountable state, giving intense 
pain, which was relieved temporarily by a deep inci- 
sion and copious discharge. For three months fresh 
abscesses formed, and other incisions were made; my 
strength was prostrated; the knee stiff and alarm- 
ingly bent, and walking was impracticable. Many 
cures were attempted by the natives, who all sym- 
pathised with me in my sufferings, which they saw 
were scarcely endurable; but I had great faith — was 
all along cheerful and happy, except at the crisis of 
this helpless state, when I felt that it would have been 
preferable to be nearer home. The disease ran its 
course, and daily, to bring out the accumulated dis- 
charge, I stripped my leg like a leech. Bombay had 
heard of a poultice made of cow-dung, salt, and mud 
from the lake; this was placed on hot, but it merely 
produced the effect of a tight bandage. Baraka was 
certain that a serpent had spat upon my leg — "it 
could not have been a bite." Dr M'nanagee, the sul- 
tan s brother, knew the disease perfectly; he could 
send me a cure for it — and a mild gentle peasant of 
the Wanyambo race came with his wife, a young pleas- 
ing-like person, to attend me. With the soft touch of 
a woman he examined the limb, made cuts over the 
skin with a penknife, ordered all lookers-on outside 
