Without Any Breakfast, We Returned By The Same Route By Which We
Had Come, At Four Miles An Hour, Till
Half the way was cleared,
when the king said, laughing, "Bana, are you hungry?" - a
ridiculous question after twenty-four
Hours of starvation, which
he knew full well - and led the way into a plantain-grove, where
the first hut that was found was turned inside out for the king's
accommodation, and picnic was prepared. As, however, he ordered
my portion to be given outside with the pages', and allowed
neither pombe or water, I gave him the slip, and walked hurriedly
home, where I found Kahala smirking, and apparently glad to see
us, but Meri shamming ill in bed, whilst Manamaka, the governess,
was full of smiles and conversation. She declared Meri had
neither tasted food or slept since my departure, but had been
retching all the time. Dreadfully concerned at the doleful story
I immediately thought of giving relief with medicines, but
neither pulse, tongue, nor anything else indicated the slightest
disorder; and to add to these troubles, Ilmas's woman had tried
during my absence to hang herself, because she would not serve as
servant but wished to be my wife; and Bombay's wife, after taking
a doze of quinine, was delivered of a still-born child.
1st. - I visited the king, at his request, with the medicine-
chest. He had caught a cold. He showed me several of his women
grievously affected with boils, and expected me to cure them at
once.
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