chap, ix.] “ COMING EVENTS;’ ETC.—FEVER. 393 
not believe the Turks have any intention of going to 
Kamrasi’s country; they are afraid, as they have heard 
that he is a powerful king, and they fear the restric¬ 
tions that power will place upon their felonious pro¬ 
pensities. In that case I shall go on without them ; 
but they have deceived me, by borrowing 165lbs. of 
beads which they cannot repay; this puts me to much 
inconvenience. The Asua river is still impassable 
according to native reports; this will prevent a general 
advance south. Should the rains cease, the river will 
fall rapidly, and I shall make a forward move and 
escape this prison of high grass and inaction.” 
“Oct. 1 1th .—Lions roaring every night, but not 
visible. I set my men to work to construct a fortified 
camp, a simple oblong of palisades with two flanking 
projections at opposite angles to command all ap¬ 
proaches ; the lazy scoundrels are sulky in consequence. 
Their daily occupation is drinking merissa, sleeping, 
and strumming on the rababa, while that of the black 
women is quarrelling—one ebony sister insulting the 
other by telling her that she is as e black as the kettle/ 
and recommending her 4 to eat poison/ ” 
“Oct. 17 th .—I expect an attack of fever to-morrow 
or next day, as I understand from constant and 
painful experiences every step of this insidious 
disease. For some days one feels a certain uneasiness 
