the summit of the western subtending ridge, and began to descend toward the centre of the country, hoping soon to get out of the Chiboque territory, which, when we ascended from the Cassange valley, we had entered; but, on the 19th of April, the intermittent, which had begun on the 16th of March, was changed into an extremely severe attack of rheumatic fever.  This was brought on by being obliged to sleep on an extensive plain covered with water.  The rain poured down incessantly, but we formed our beds by dragging up the earth into oblong mounds, somewhat like graves in a country church-yard, and then placing grass upon them.  The rain continuing to deluge us, we were unable to leave for two days, but as soon as it became fair we continued our march.  The heavy dew upon the high grass was so cold as to cause shivering, and I was forced to lie by for eight days, tossing and groaning with violent pain in the head.  This was the most severe attack I had endured.  It made me quite unfit to move, or even know what was passing outside my little tent.  Senhor Pascoal, who had been detained by the severe rain at a better spot, at last came up, and, knowing that leeches abounded in the rivulets, procured a number, and applied some dozens to the nape of the neck and the loins.  This partially relieved the pain.  He was then obliged to move forward, in order to purchase food for his large party.  After many days I began to recover, and wished to move on, but my men objected to the attempt on account of my weakness.  When Senhor Pascoal had been some time at the village in front, as he had received instructions from his employer, Captain Neves, to aid me as much as possible, and being himself a kindly-disposed person, he sent back two messengers to invite me to come on, if practicable.

It happened that the head man of the village where I had lain twenty-two days, while bargaining and quarreling in my camp for a piece of meat, had been struck on the mouth by one of my men.  My principal men paid five pieces of cloth and a gun as an atonement; but the more they yielded, the more exorbitant he became, and he sent word to all the surrounding villages to aid him in avenging the affront of a blow on the beard.  As their courage usually rises with success, I resolved to yield no more, and departed.  In passing through a forest in the country beyond, we were startled by a body of men rushing after us.  They began by knocking down the burdens of the hindermost of my men, and several shots were fired, each party spreading out on both sides of the path.  I fortunately had a six-barreled revolver, which my friend Captain Henry Need, of her majesty’s brig “Linnet”, had considerately sent to Golungo Alto after my departure from Loanda.  Taking this in my hand, and forgetting fever, I staggered quickly along the path with two or three of my men, and fortunately encountered the chief.  The sight of the six barrels gaping into his stomach, with my own ghastly visage looking daggers