350 
MOEE TEOUBLES. 
Chap. XVIII. 
Pitsane, Mohorisi, and I, wlio alone were mounted, were often 
caught; and as there is no stopping the oxen when they have 
the prospect of giving the rider a tumble, we came frequently 
to the ground. In addition to these mishaps, Sinbad went off 
at a plunging gallop, the bridle broke, and I came down back¬ 
wards on the crown of my head. He gave me a kick on the 
thigh at the same time. I felt none the worse for this rough 
treatment, but would not recommend it to others as a palliative 
in cases of fever! This last attack of fever was so obstinate 
that it reduced me almost to a skeleton. The blanket which I 
used as a saddle on the back of the ox, being frequently wet, 
remained so beneath me even in the hot sun, and, aided by the 
heat of the ox, caused extensive abrasion of the skin, which was 
continually healing and getting sore again. To this incon¬ 
venience was now added the chafing of my projecting bones on 
the hard bed. 
On Friday w^e came to a village of civil people on the banks 
of the Loajima itself, and we were wet all day in consequence oh 
crossing it. The bridges over it, and another stream which we 
crossed at mid-day, were submerged, as we have hitherto in¬ 
variably found, by a flood of perfectly clear water. At tlie second 
ford we were met by a hostile party who refused us further 
passage. I ordered my men to proceed in the same direction we 
had been pursuing, but our enemies spread themselves out in 
front of us with loud cries. Our numbers were about equal to 
theirs this time, so I moved on at the head of my men. Some ran 
off to other villages, or back to their own village, on pretence of 
getting ammunition; others called out that all traders came to 
them, and that we must do the same. As these people had plenty 
of iron-headed arrows and some guns, when we came to the edge 
of the forest I ordered my men to put the luggage in our centre ; 
and, if our enemies did not fire, to cut down some young trees 
and make a screen as quickly as possible, but do nothing to them 
except in case of actual attack. I then dismounted, and, advancing 
a little towards our principal opponent, showed him how easily 
I could kill him, but pointed upwards, saying, I fear God.” 
He did the same, placing his hand on his heart, pointing up¬ 
wards, and saying, “ I fear to kill; but come to our village ; come 
—do come.” At this juncture, the old headman, longa Panza, a 
