disturbed a tiger-cat from his retreat amongst the
rocks, but he was rewarded for his labour by an extensive
and agreeable prospect from the summit of the mountain,
which he found to consist of large blocks of white
marble. The town with its double wall, perforated
with holes for the bowmen to shoot through, lay at
his feet, and several little rural villages studded
the country on every side. The governor of Keshee
was so old and infirm, that it was evident he had
not many years to live. A lotion was given him
for his swollen foot, which greatly elated a few of
his attendants, and their animated looks and gestures
bespoke hearts overflowing with gratitude, so much
so indeed, that it was remarked as a circumstance
of very rare occurrence. The cause of these grateful
feelings was, however, soon explained to them, for
early in the morning, they were visited by a young
man, who had particularly distinguished himself in
his expressions of gratitude, but who now put on such
a rueful countenance, and spoke in a tone so low and
melancholy, that his whole appearance was completely
altered, insomuch that it was supposed some great
calamity had befallen him. The cause of it was
soon explained, by his informing them that he would
be doomed to die, with two companions, as soon as
their governor’s dissolution should take place;
and as the old man had already one foot in the grave,
the sadness of the poor fellow was not to be wondered
at. When this same individual and his associates
observed Richard Lander giving the lotion to their
master on the preceding day, they imagined it would
prolong his existence, and consequently lengthen their
own, and hence arose that burst of feeling which had
attracted their attention. The people here imagined
that the Landers could do anything, but more especially
that they were acquainted with, and could cure all
the complaints and disorders to which man is liable.
During the day, the governor solicited from Richard
Lander a charm to protect his house from fire, and
to enable him to amass riches, while one of his elderly
wives made a doleful complaint of having been likely
to become a mother for the last thirty years, and begged
piteously for medicine to promote and assist her accouchement.
It was easy enough to satisfy the old man; but it
was conceived that the hypochondriacal complaint of
his wife, was too dangerous to be meddled with by
unprofessional hands. Poor woman! she was much
to be pitied, for the odd delusion under which she
had been labouring for some time, had given her considerable
uneasiness, so that life itself became a burden to
her. All that Richard Lander, her medical adviser,
could do for her, was to soothe her mind, by telling
her that her distemper was very common, and not at
all dangerous; and he promised her that on their return
to Keeshee, should nothing transpire in her favour
in the mean time, he would endeavour to remove the
cause of her complaint. This comforted the aged
matron exceedingly, and in the fulness of her heart,
she burst into tears of joy, dropped on her knees
to express her acknowledgments, and pressed them to
accept a couple of goora nuts.