Journal of a second expedition into the interior of Africa, from the Bight of Benin to Soccatoo : $b To which is added, the journal of Richard Lander from Kano to the sea-coast, partly by a more eastern route.Clapperton, Hugh
History
Journal of a second expedition into the interior of Africa, from the Bight of Benin to Soccatoo : $b To which is added, the journal of Richard Lander from Kano to the sea-coast, partly by a more eastern route.
Clapperton, Hugh
Sudan (Region) -- Description and travel
my master’s wants which his situation so particularly required,
I solicited and obtained his consent to have old Pascoe once more to
assist me. On entering the hut, he fell on his knees, and prayed to be
forgiven, promising to be faithful to my master’s service. Master
immediately pardoned him, and said he would forget all that had
passed, if he conducted himself well: by this means the washing and
all the drudgery was taken from my shoulders, and I was enabled to
devote all my time and attention to my master’s person. I fanned
him for hours together, and this seemed to cool the burning heat of
his body, of which he repeatedly complained. Almost the whole of his
conversation turned upon his country and friends, but I never heard
him regret his leaving them; indeed he was patient and resigned to
the last, and a murmur of disappointment never escaped his lips.
On the 1st of April, he became considerably worse, and though
evidently in want of repose, his sleep became more and more
disturbed. He swallowed eight drops of laudanum, four times a day,
for three days; but finding it did him not the least benefit,
he discontinued taking it altogether: this, with the exception of
two papers of Seidlitz powders and four ounces of Epsom salts, was
the only medicine he had during his illness. On the 9th, Maddie,
a native of Bornou, whom master had retained in his service,
brought him about twelve ounces of green bark from the butter
tree, and said it would do him much good. Notwithstanding all my
remonstrances, master immediately ordered a decoction of it to be
prepared, observing, “No man will injure me.” Accordingly Maddie
himself boiled two basins-full, the whole of which he drank in less
than an hour. Next morning he was much altered for the worse, and
regretted his not having followed my advice. About twelve o’clock
of the same day, he said, “Richard, I shall shortly be no more;
I feel myself dying.” Almost choked with grief, I replied, “God
forbid, my dear master: you will live many years yet.” “Don’t
be so much affected, my dear boy, I entreat you,” said he: “it
is the will of the Almighty; it cannot be helped. Take care of my
journal and papers after my death; and when you arrive in London,
go immediately to my agents, send for my uncle, who will accompany
you to the Colonial Office, and let him see you deposit them safely
into the hands of the secretary. After I am buried, apply to Bello,
and borrow money to purchase camels and provisions for your journey
over the desert, and go in the train of the Arab merchants to
Fezzan. On your arrival there, should your money be exhausted,
send a messenger to Mr. Warrington, our consul at Tripoli, and
wait till he returns with a remittance. On reaching Tripoli, that
gentleman will advance what money you may require, and send you to
England the first opportunity. Do not lumber yourself with my books;
leave them behind, as well as the barometer, boxes, and sticks,
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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