some small villages for refreshment. I was presented at one of them
with a dish which I had never before seen. It was composed of the
blossoms or antherae of the maize, stewed in milk and water. It is
eaten only in time of great scarcity. On the 30th, about noon, I
arrived at Wonda, a small town with a mosque, and surrounded by a
high wall. The mansa, who was a Mohammedan, acted in two
capacities--as chief magistrate of the town, and schoolmaster to the
children. He kept his school in an open shed, where I was desired
to take up my lodging until some account should arrive from
Sibidooloo concerning my horse and clothes; for though the horse was
of little use to me, yet the few clothes were essential, The little
raiment upon me could neither protect me from the sun by day, nor
the dews and mosquitoes by night: indeed, my shirt was not only
worn thin like a piece of muslin, but withal so very dirty that I
was happy to embrace an opportunity of washing it, which having
done, and spread it upon a bush, I sat down naked in the shade until
it was dry.

Ever since the commencement of the rainy season my health had been
greatly on the decline. I had often been affected with slight
paroxysms of fever; and from the time of leaving Bammakoo the
symptoms had considerably increased. As I was sitting in the manner
described, the fever returned with such violence that it very much
alarmed me; the more so as I had no medicine to stop its progress,
nor any hope of obtaining that care and attention which my situation
required.

I remained at Wonda nine days, during which time I experienced the
regular return of the fever every day. And though I endeavoured as
much as possible to conceal my distress from my landlord, and