34 
Arrival at “the Bush ! 1 
strip of muslin, to be fastened round the mouth 
after the fashion of Outram’s “ fever guard,” and 
shut my lips to save my life, by the particular 
advice of Dr. Catlin. The first mosquito piped 
his “ Io Paean” at 8 p.m. ; another hour brought 
legions, and then began the battle for our blood. 
I had resolved not to sleep in the fetid air of the 
jungle ; time, however, moved on wings of lead; a 
dull remembrance of a watery moon, stars dimly 
visible, a southerly breeze, and heavy drops falling 
from the trees long haunted me. About midnight, 
Prince Paul, who had bewailed the hardship of 
passing a night sans mostiquaire in the bush, and 
whose violent plungings showed that he failed to 
manage un somme , proposed to land and to fetch 
fire from Vhabitation. 
“ What habitation ?” 
“ Oh ! a little village belonging to papa.” 
“ And why the-didn’t you mention it ?” 
“ Ah! this is Mponbinda, and you know we’re 
bound for Mbata ! ” 
Nothing negrotic now astonishes us, there is 
nought new to me in Africa. We landed upon a 
natural pier of rock ledge, and, after some 400 
yards of good path, we entered a neat little village, 
and found our crew snoring snugly asleep. We 
“ exhorted them,” refreshed the fire, and generously 
recruited exhausted nature with quinine, julienne 
and tea, potatoes and potted meats, pipes and 
