greatest. In Africa, whether
a person be ill or well, it is exactly the same, nothing like peace
or quiet is any where to be found; independently of the continual
fluttering of pigeons, which roosted close to their ears, the
bleating of sheep and goats, and the barking of numerous half-starved
dogs, they were still more seriously annoyed by the incessant clatter
of women's tongues, which pursued them every where, and which it was
believed nothing less than sickness or death on their part could
eventually silence. The shrillness of their voices drowns the
bleating of the sheep, and the yellings of the canine race; and
notwithstanding all the exertions of Richard Lander, seconded by
those of their attendants, their noise in this town considerably
retarded the recovery of his brother. A person in England might be
inclined to think lightly of this matter, but it is indeed a
grievance, which can ill be borne by an invalid languishing under a
wasting disease, and who has equally as much need of rest and silence
as of medicine. Besides those grievances, the shouts of the people
outside the yard, and the perpetual squalling of children within it,
the buzzing of beetles and drones, the continual attacks of
mosquitoes and innumerable flies, form a host of irritating evils, to
which a sick person is exposed, and to which he is obliged patiently
to submit, until by a relief from his disorder, he is obliged to
stand upon his legs, and once more take his own part. But even then
noises assail his ear, and he does not enjoy the happiness of perfect
silence unless he enters a grove or forest.

They were this morning, visited by a party of Fellatas of both sexes.
They differed but little either in colour or feature from the
original natives of the soil. In dress and ornaments, however, there
was a slight distinction between them. They displayed more taste in
their apparel, and wore a greater number of ornaments round the neck
and wrists; they paid also great attention to their hair, which the
women plait with astonishing ingenuity. Like that of the young woman,
whom they met at Jenna, their heads exactly resembled a dragoon's
helmet. Their hair was much longer of course than that of the negro,
which enables the Fallatas to weave it on both sides of the head
into a kind of _queue_, which passing over each cheek is tied under
the chin.

Another company of Fellatas came to them in the evening, for they had
never beheld a white man, and