The weekly Elko independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1872-1887, 1875-04-17
Central Africa.

Among the greatest plaques Of tht
country are the mosquitoes. The native:
get used to them, ";s the man WAS, who
said that he would get used to n mai
through the heel of his shoe" DR. Liv,
ingSt0nc constructed mosquito curtain
which protected him completely, bit OF
civilization which surprised tho natives
| llewas not so fortunate in defending him.
self against the anis. When they make
aH iH0ur,iOn, there is nothing to b: done
but to endure. "To describe the attack
Is utterly impossible. l Weakened covered
with them. One by one they cut
into the flesh, and the more they are dis
| turbed the more vicious arc their bites,
they become quite insolent. went out
side the hut, but there they swarmcd
everywhere; they covered my legs, biting
turiously; it is only when they are tired
that they leave OIL" Iti5 but small COM
tort TO revenge oneself on these creatures
by making u meal of them.
Caught and fried, u certain species
make palatablc food. So mt least the
doctor says; but we suspect it must bc
paiatablc for Africa. At certain times,
apparently when the winged ants are
about to swarm, the natives erect sort
Of umbrella over the ant-hilI. AS soon
rs the ants fly against this canopy they
tal! down, and their wings become de-
tached from their bodies. They are then
swept up into baskets to bc cooked. The
tsctSc fly Is more dangerous than either
mosquito or ant. 1t happily only attacks
the animalsi but its bite is generally
fatal.
Tic medical treatment is Of the rudest
description. Itis, however, not n mere
incantati0n. \ single case of native sur-
gerry must suffice for IL sample Of all. The
patient in this case was wounded in the
thigh by II bullet. "First Of all hole was
dug, say two feet deep and four in length,
i'll such manner that the patient could
sit i'll it with his legs out before him. 4
large leaf WAS then hound round the frac-
turcd thigh and earth thrown in SO that
the patient was buried up to the chest.
The next actwas 10 cover the earth which
lay over the mans legs with thick layer
Of mud. Then plenty of grass and sticks
were collected and fire lighted ON top
directly over the fracture. To prevent
the smoke smothcring the sufferer, they
held tall mat rs screen before his face.
and the operation went on. After SONG
ground. Believing with fear and covered
with pcrsniration, the man implorcd them
to let him out. The authorities conclud-
ing that hc had been under treatment
sufficient length Of time, quickly bur
rowcd down and lifted him from the hole.
lie was now held perfectly fast, while
two strong men stretched the wounded
limb with all their might. Splints, duly
prepared, were afterwards bound round il,
and we must hope that in due time bene-
fit accrued; but as the ball had passed
through the limb We must have our
doubts 0n The subject.
The story Of DR.. Livingstonc's death is
touching from its very simplicity. The
native guides are called by IL watcher,
who fears lest lie ia dead, he has been sU
quiet SD long. Passing inside the hut,
they looked toward the bed. DIR. Living
stone was not lying on it, but appeared to
he engaged in prayer, and they instinct
lively drew backward for the instant.
MajwarA said, "Whcn lay down he was
ust as hC is now, and it is because find
that lie does not now move that fear he
is dead" The lad knew not how long
hc slept; the men drew nearer. 4 candle,
stuck by his own WAX TO the top Of the
box, shed light sufficient for them To
see his form. lie. WAS kuccIing by the
side of his bed, his body stretched for
ward, his head buried in his hand uuon q
pillow. Fora minute they watched him /;
he did not stir; there was no sign of
breathing; then one Of them, Matthew,
advanced softly to him and placed his
hands To his checks. 1t was sufficient :;
IiIc had been extinct somn timn