380 
CAEKIERS —FEVEK. 
Chap. XIX, 
to and from the coast. The goods are carried on the head, or on 
one shoulder, in a sort of basket attached to the extremities of 
two poles between five and six feet long, and called Motete. 
When the basket is placed on the head, the poles project forwards 
horizontally, and when the carrier wishes to rest himself, he plants 
them on the ground and the burden against a tree, so he is not 
obliged to lift it up from the ground to the level of the head. It 
stands against the tree propped up by the poles at that level. 
The carrier frequently plants the poles on the ground, and stands 
holding the burden until he has taken breath, thus avoiding the 
trouble of placing the burden on the ground and lifting it up 
again. 
When a company of these carriers, or our own party, arrives 
at one of these sleeping-places, immediate possession is taken of 
the sheds. Those who come late and find all occupied, must then 
erect others for themselves; but this is not difificult, for there is 
no lack of long grass. No sooner do any strangers appear at the 
spot, than the women may be seen emerging from their villages 
bearing baskets of manioc-meal, roots, ground-nuts, yams, bird’s- 
eye pepper, and garhc for sale. Calico, of which we had brought 
some from Cassange, is the chief medium of exchange. We 
found them all civil, and it was evident, from the amount of 
talking and laughing in bargaining, that the ladies enjoyed their 
occupation. They must cultivate largely, in order to be able to 
supply the constant succession of strangers. Those, however, 
near to the great line of road, purchase also much of the food from 
the more distant villages for the sake of gain. 
Pitsane and another of the men had violent attacks of fever, 
and it was no wonder, for the dampness and evaporation from 
the ground was excessive. When at any time I attempted to get 
an observation of a star, if the trough of mercury were placed on 
the ground, so much moisture was condensed on the inside of the 
glass roof over it, that it was with difficulty the refiection of the 
star could be seen. When the trough was placed on a box to 
prevent the moisture entering from below, so much dew was 
deposited on the outside of the roof, that it was soon necessary, 
for the sake of distinct vision, to wipe the glass. This would 
not have been of great consequence, but a short exposure to 
this dew was so sure to bring on a fresh fever, that I was obhged 
