powder. There was a quantity of luggage most fortunately
lying before the muzzle, but the effects of the
discharge were extraordinary. The ball struck the
steel scabbard of a sword, tearing off the ring ; it then
passed obliquely through the stock of a large rifle, and
burst through the shoulder-plate; entering a packing-
case of inch-deal, it passed through it and through the
legs of a man who was sitting at some distance, and
striking the hip-bone of another man, who was sitting
at some paces beyond, it completely smashed both hips,
and fortunately being expended, it lodged in the body.
Had it not been for the first objects happily in the
route of the ball, it would have killed several men, as
they were sitting in a crowd exactly before the
muzzle.
Dr. Murie, who had accompanied Mr. Petherick,
very kindly paid the wounded men every attention,
but he with the smashed hip died in a few hours,
apparently without pain'.
After the departure of Speke and Grant, I moved
my tent to the high ground above the rive r; the effluvium
from the filth of some thousands of people was
disgusting, and fever was prevalent in all quarters.
Both of us were suffering; also Mr. and Mrs. Petherick,
and many of my men, one of whom died. My a.nimflG
were all healthy, but the donkeys and camels were
attacked by a bird, about the size of a thrush, which
caused them great uneasiness. This bird is a greenish-
brown colour, with a powerful red beak, and excessively
strong claws. It is a perfect pest to the animals, and
positively eats them into holes. The original object of
the bird in settling upon the animal is to search for
vermin, but it is not contented with the mere
insects, and industriously pecks holes in all parts of
the animal, more especially on the back. A wound
once established, adds to the attraction, and the
unfortunate animal is so pestered that it has no time
to eat. I was obliged to hire little boys to watch the
donkeys, and to drive off these plagues ; but so determined
and bold were the birds, that I have constantly
seen them run under the body of the donkey, clinging
to the belly with their feet, and thus retreating to the
opposite side of the animal when chased by the watch-
boys. In a few days my animals were full of wounds,
excepting the horses, whose long tails were effectual
whisks. Although the temperature was high, 95° Fahr.,
the wind was frequently cold at about three o’clock in
the morning, and one of my horses, “ Priest,” that I
had lately purchased of the Mission, became paralysed,
and could not rise from the ground. After several
days’ endeavours to cure him, I was obliged to shoot
him, as the poor animal could not eat.