64 
TEAVELS IN CENTEAL AFEICA. 
and there^ for hours_, I slept. I believe we remained a few days at 
that place^ I know that I gained strength_, and when we again 
started I was quite gay_, for every step taken was one nearer home. 
However I soon relapsed into the old moaning and delirious state ; 
the same black wall was ever before me. How many dead and 
dying camels we passed ! a solitary one would sometimes stagger to 
its feet^ and proceed with ours a short distance,, then fall^, and we 
abandon it to its fate. One of these poor animals I never can for- 
get : I thought it was a skeleton,, but the luminous beseeching eyes 
gazed at us from the spectral head, and yet no one gave it a drink, 
which I beseeched them to do. We were within a few hours of the 
river, when I experienced a slight sunstroke. Petherick would not 
allow me to move for some hours, therefore we remained with two 
of the servants ; another, who went on, returned with sweet Nile- 
water and refreshing limes. As we approached Korosko, the rets 
of the ^ Kathleen ^ and some of the crew advanced to greet us. 
After receiving their salutations, I asked how were the birds ? the 
smiles of the men disappeared, and they held down their heads. We 
were soon on board, and there in their cages were my birds, but, 
with two or three exceptions, all dead. They had been neglected 
and starved ; parrot Polly was alive, though reduced to a skeleton : 
she remembered us, gave a feeble cry, and was soon nestling in 
PethericlPs hands. A pair of small and exquisite long-tailed doves 
were also alive. The men could not recover their spirits \ Pethe- 
rick^s silence, and my tears, were a reproach more bitter than ex- 
pressed anger. 
And now, darling, I must do my very best to get strong and 
well. Peth. grieves to see the weak state I am in ; at times I am 
very petulant, and he is so patient and forbearing. 
