Great African Travellers: From Mungo Park to Livingstone and StanleyKingston, William Henry Giles
History
Great African Travellers: From Mungo Park to Livingstone and Stanley
Kingston, William Henry Giles
Africa -- Description and travel; Africa -- Discovery and exploration; Explorers
He mustered strength sufficient to scramble to an ethel-tree on an
elevated spot, intending to light a fire, but, unable to move about, he
could gather no wood. Having rested after dark for an hour or two, he
once more rose, and discovered in the south-west a large fire. Again he
fired his pistols, but no answer was returned. Still the flames rose
towards the sky, telling him where deliverance was to be found, but he
was unable to drag his weary limbs so far. Having waited long, he fired
a second time, yet no answer came. At last he resigned himself to the
care of the Merciful One and tried to sleep, but in vain--he was in a
high fever. The long night wore away and dawn was drawing nigh. All
was repose and silence: he was sure that he could not choose a better
time for trying to inform his friends by signal of his whereabouts.
Collecting his remaining strength, he loaded his pistol with a heavy
charge and fired once and then again. His companions seemed not to have
heard his signals. The sun he had half longed for, half looked-forward
to with terror, at last rose. His condition, as the heat increased,
became more dreadful. He crawled round the tree, trying to enjoy the
little shade afforded by the leafless branches. About noon there was
only sufficient shade left to shelter his head. He suffered greatly
from the pangs of thirst, till at last, becoming senseless, he fell into
a sort of delirium, from which he only recovered when the sun went down
behind the mountain. Crawling from beneath the shade of the tree and
throwing a glance over the plain, suddenly the cry of a camel reached
him. It was the most delightful music he had ever heard in his life.
Raising himself a little, he saw a mounted Tarki passing at some
distance and looking eagerly around. The Tarki had discovered his
footprints in the sandy ground. Crying as loud as his faint strength
would allow, "_aman! aman_!" ("Water! water!") he was rejoiced to see
the Tarki, Musa by name, approaching, and in a few moments he was at his
side, washing and sprinkling his head. His throat was, however, too dry
to enjoy the draught which Musa poured into it. His deliverer then
placed him on his camel, mounted himself in front, and carried him to
the tents.
The strength of a European is soon broken in those climes, if for a
single day he is prevented from taking his usual food. Next day,
however, the doctor was able to continue his journey.
Ghat, well situated in the centre of an oasis, was next reached. It is
surrounded by mud walls, with flat-roofed houses, while outside are
plantations of date-trees.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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