112 
THE KILIMA-NJAR 0 EXPEDITION. 
needing my assistance, and insisting on my starting to 
see them without delay. Feeling annoyed at these 
constant demands on my time and medicine-chest, I 
nevertheless complied, in order to keep on good terms 
with the chief, but this time I resolved to use a coarser 
and scarcely less effectual remedy for open sores— 
paraffin—of which I had an ample store. So, with a 
small tin of this mineral oil, more lint, and more linen 
bandaging, I again followed the messenger, and this 
time was taken to a different quarter, where I entered 
a large, low-pitched, round building, with a peaked 
roof—in fact a big beehive hut. The interior being 
only lighted by the low doorway, it was at first impos¬ 
sible to distinguish anything in the gloom, especially 
as a curious odorous steam, and the smoke of a wood 
fire mingled and rendered the obscurity inside denser. 
At length, however, I could make out that the b mid- 
life- was divided into a certain number of stalls, 
separated in the centre by a broad lane. On one side 
were milch cows, some four or five, each with a calf, 
and each in her separate stall; on the other were 
about the same number of women, one or two with 
children. They evinced little surprise or amusement 
at seeing me, and all but the sick one went on with 
the food-preparing avocations they were already 
engaged in. I dressed the woman’s ulcer with 
paraffin, left her some oil for a further application, 
and withdrew, half-stifled with the ammoniacal odours 
of this stable-liarem. Once more back in camp I had 
many further calls here and there to visit patients and 
treat the most varied disorders, from a broken arm to 
insanity and blindness. In all cases it was hoped that 
I should effect immediate cures, and had I commenced 
a series of miracles, no surprise would have been 
