262 TRAVELS IN AFRICA.

me to move forward. To remedy the former, at least as much as lay in my power, I despatched another messenger to Sego on the 9th of December ; but to procure the necessary supplies without the arrival of vessels from the coast was impossible : I was therefore obliged to wait until all things should combine to render my moving likely to be productive of any benefit.

In addition to the deaths already mentioned since our arrival at Baquelle, wehad to deplore the loss of two of the most useful, and hitherto most healthy Europeans of the mission ; the one a sergeant (Duffy), and the other a private (Dodds), ofthe royal African corps. Nearly all had suffered more or less from the effects of the rains which ceased about the latter end of October, leaving behind them, however, swamps and stagnant pools, not less deleterious in their effects on the constitution than the former, and certainly more immediately unpleasant, by the effluvia arising from such putrid reservoirs of the vegetable matter, which in that country so profusely abounds in all low situations.

Our animals too, particularly those not bred in the country, died rapidly. We had lost since our arrival three camels, six horses, and eight asses.

We found much difficulty in procuring an adequate supply of provisions during the rains.