chap, hi.] BIRDS RUIN THE DONKEYS. 7J 
and fortunately being expended, it lodged in the body. 
Had it not been for the first objects happily in the 
route of the ball, it would have killed several men, as 
they were sitting in a crowd exactly before the 
muzzle. 
Dr. Murie, who had accompanied Mr. Petherick, 
very kindly paid the wounded men every attention, 
but he with the smashed hip died in a few hours, 
apparently without pain. 
After the departure of Speke and Grant, I moved 
my tent to the high ground above the river; the efflu¬ 
vium from the filth of some thousands of people was 
disgusting, and fever was prevalent in all quarters. 
Both of us were suffering; also Mr. and Mrs. Petherick, 
and many of my men, one of whom died. My animals 
were all healthy, but the donkeys and camels were 
attacked by a bird, about the size of a thrush, which 
caused them great uneasiness. This bird is a greenish- 
brown colour, with a powerful red beak, and excessively 
strong claws. It is a perfect pest to the animals, and 
positively eats them into holes. The original object of 
the bird in settling upon the animal is to search for 
vermin, but it is not contented with the mere 
insects, and industriously pecks holes in all parts of 
the animal, more especially on the back. A wound 
• once established, adds to the attraction, and the 
unfortunate animal is so pestered that it has no time 
to eat. I was obliged to hire little boys to watch the 
donkeys, and to drive off these plagues ; but so deter¬ 
mined and bold were the birds, that I have constantly 
seen them run under the body of the donkey, clinging 
to the belly with their feet, and thus retreating to the 
opposite side of the animal when chased by the watch- 
boys. In a few days my animals were full of wounds, 
.excepting the horses, whose long tails were effectual 
whisks. Although the temperature was high, 95° Fahr., 
the wind was frequently cold at about three o’clock in 
the morning, and one of my horses, “ Priest,” that I 
had lately purchased of the Mission, became paralysed. 
