previously of a burning heat in his stomach, unaccompanied, however,
by any other kind of pain. From the moment he was taken ill he perspired
freely, and big drops of sweat were continually rolling over every part
of his body, which weakened him exceedingly. It being the fast of
Rhamadan, I could get no one, not even our own servants, to render
me the least assistance. I washed the clothes, which was an arduous
employment, and obliged to be done eight or nine times each day, lit
and kept in the fire, and prepared the victuals myself; and in the
intermediate time was occupied in fanning my poor master, which was also
a tedious employment. Finding myself unable to pay proper attention to
his wants in these various avocations, I sent to Mallam Mudey, on the
13th, entreating him to send me a female slave to perform the operation
of fanning. On her arrival I gave her a few beads, and she immediately
began her work with spirit; but she soon relaxed in her exertions, and
becoming tired, ran away, on pretence of going out for a minute, and
never returned. Alla Sellakee, a young man my master had purchased
on the road from Kano to take care of the camels, and whom he had
invariably treated with his usual kindness, and given him his freedom,
no sooner was made acquainted with his master's illness than he became
careless and idle, and instead of leading the camels to the rich
pasturage in the vicinity of Soccatoo, let them stray whereever they
pleased, whilst he himself either loitered about the city, or mixed with
the most degraded people in it: by this means the camels became quite
lean; and being informed of the reason, I told my master, who instantly
discharged him from his service.

My master grew weaker daily, and the weather was insufferably hot, the
thermometer being, in the coolest place, 107 at twelve in the morning,
and 109 at three in the afternoon. At his own suggestion I made a couch
for him outside the hut, in the shade, and placed a mat for myself by