My fever became excessively severe in consequence of traveling in the hot sun, and the long grass blocking up the narrow path so as to exclude the air.  The pulse beat with amazing force, and felt as if thumping against the crown of the head.  The stomach and spleen swelled enormously, giving me, for the first time, an appearance which I had been disposed to laugh at among the Portuguese.  At Interra we met Senhor Asevedo, a man who is well known by all who ever visited Kilimane, and who was presented with a gold chronometer watch by the Admiralty for his attentions to English officers.  He immediately tendered his large sailing launch, which had a house in the stern.  This was greatly in my favor, for it anchored in the middle of the stream, and gave me some rest from the mosquitoes, which in the whole of the delta are something frightful.  Sailing comfortably in this commodious launch along the river of Kilimane, we reached that village (latitude 17d 53’ 8” S., longitude 36d 40’ E.) on the 20th of May, 1856, which wanted only a few days of being four years since I started from Cape Town.  Here I was received into the house of Colonel Galdino Jose Nunes, one of the best men in the country.  I had been three years without hearing from my family; letters having frequently been sent, but somehow or other, with but a single exception, they never reached me.  I received, however, a letter from Admiral Trotter, conveying information of their welfare, and some newspapers, which were a treat indeed.  Her majesty’s brig the “Frolic” had called to inquire for me in the November previous, and Captain Nolluth, of that ship, had most considerately left a case of wine; and his surgeon, Dr. James Walsh, divining what I should need most, left an ounce of quinine.  These gifts made my heart overflow.  I had not tasted any liquor whatever during the time I had been in Africa; but when reduced in Angola to extreme weakness, I found much benefit from a little wine, and took from Loanda one bottle of brandy in my medicine chest, intending to use it if it were again required; but the boy who carried it whirled the box upside down, and smashed the bottle, so I can not give my testimony either in favor of or against the brandy.

But my joy on reaching the east coast was sadly imbittered by the news that Commander MacLune, of H. M. brigantine “Dart”, on coming in to Kilimane to pick me up, had, with Lieutenant Woodruffe and five men, been lost on the bar.  I never felt more poignant sorrow.  It seemed as if it would have been easier for me to have died for them, than that they should all be cut off from the joys of life in generously attempting to render me a service.  I would here acknowledge my deep obligations to the Earl of Clarendon, to the admiral at the Cape, and others, for the kind interest they manifested in my safety; even the inquiries made were very much to my advantage.  I also refer with feelings of gratitude to the Governor of Mozambique