Narrative of a Mission to Central Africa Performed in the Years 1850-51, Volume 1 | Page 4

Kuka and the low, hot plain of Bornou, which he was affrightened of
very much. He offered two hundred mahboubs for a guide to conduct
him directly to the road to Bilma; but there being no road from here,
and no guide having been found, it was necessary first to go to Kuka.
"Mr. Richardson, therefore, seems to have taken strong medicines; in
consequence of which, in the evening of the third day of their halt at
Rangarvia, after having taken a walk through the town, he felt well
enough to fix his outset for the next morning. But this day being rather
a long one, and the sun being very powerful, he became very tired and
unwell; and the more so as, notwithstanding his illness, he had not left
off drinking milk, even on his camel, mixing some brandy with it.
Having recovered a little during the night, he moved on the next
morning, but ordered a halt about noon, on account of his weakness.
Having started again at sunset, they encamped at midnight. The next
day, after a short journey, they reached the Wady Mettaka. Mr.
Richardson seemed to feel much better, and drank milk and a little jura,
besides rice. From this place, on the last day of Kebia-el-awel, the
caravan, after but a two-hours' march, reached the village called
Ungurutua, when Mr. Richardson soon felt so weak that he anticipated
his death; and leaving the hut (where he was established) for his tent,
told his dragoman, Mahommed Bu Saad, that he would die. Being
consoled by him that his illness was of no consequence, he assured him
several times that he had no strength at all; and indeed his pulse ceased
almost to beat. He began, then, to rub his feet with vinegar, and applied
the same several times to his head and shoulders. After which, in the
absence of his servants, he poured water also over himself; so that,
when they returned after a few moments, they found him quite wet. To
counteract the bad effect of this proceeding, they began to rub him with
a little oil. In the evening he took a little food, and tried to sleep; but
notwithstanding that he seems to have taken something to bring on
sleep, he threw himself restless from one side to the other, calling his

wife several times by her name. After having walked out of his tent
with the assistance of his servant, he ordered tea, and remained restless
on his bed. When it was past midnight, his old dragoman, Yusuf
Moknee, who watched in his tent, made some coffee, in order to keep
himself awake; upon which Mr. Richardson demanded a cup of coffee
for himself; but his hand being so weak that he could scarcely raise the
cup, he said to Moknee: 'Tergamento Ufa,'--'Your office as dragoman is
finished;' and repeated several times, with a broken voice, 'Forza
mafishe, forza mafishe le-koul,'--'I have no strength, I have no strength,
I tell you,' at the same time laying Mahommed's hand on his shoulder.
Feeling death approaching, he got up in a sitting posture, being
supported by Mahommed, and soon expired, after three times deep
breathing. He was entirely worn out, and died quietly, about two after
midnight, Tuesday, 4th March (Jumed-el-awel), without the least
struggle. His servant then called into the tent the other people and the
Kashalla, or officer of the Sheikh, who had come along with them from
Zinder, in order to be witness, and while wrapping the body of the
deceased in three shirts which they had cut up, ordered the people of
the village to dig a grave for him. They then shut up whatever of the
luggage of Mr. Richardson was not locked up, and prepared everything
for their journey to Kuka. Early in the morning they lifted the body,
wrapped up as it was, upon Mr. Richardson's carpet, and carried him to
his grave, which had been dug in the shade of a large gaw, close to the
village, to the depth of four feet. Having then covered his head and
breast with a very large tabah, so as to protect it from every side, they
covered the body with earth, and had the grave well secured. I have
spoken several times with Haj Beshir that it might be well taken care of,
and I am sure the grave of the traveller, who sacrificed his life for his
great object, will be respected. I send you with this first kafila all Mr.
Richardson's papers and his journal, which is kept till the 21st February,
consisting of six reams, and his vocabularies, not finished, four reams,
with Yusuf's journal, as well as all his other papers or letters. I have
taken out only the letters of recommendation of the