Копи царя Соломона

           Whatismore,thislotwerethoroughly"salted,"thatis,theyhadworkedalloverSouthAfrica,andsohadbecomeproof,comparativelyspeaking,againstredwater,whichsofrequentlydestroyswholeteamsofoxenwhentheygetontostrange"veldt"orgrasscountry. Asfor"lungsick,"whichisadreadfulformofpneumonia,veryprevalentinthiscountry,theyhadallbeeninoculatedagainstit. Thisisdonebycuttingaslitinthetailofanox,andbindinginapieceofthediseasedlungofananimalwhichhasdiedofthesickness. Theresultisthattheoxsickens,takesthediseaseinamildform,whichcausesitstailtodropoff,asaruleaboutafootfromtheroot,andbecomesproofagainstfutureattacks. Itseemscrueltorobtheanimalofhistail,especiallyinacountrywheretherearesomanyflies,butitisbettertosacrificethetailandkeeptheoxthantolosebothtailandox,foratailwithoutanoxisnotmuchgood,excepttodustwith. Stillitdoeslookoddtotrekalongbehindtwentystumps,wherethereoughttobetails. ItseemsasthoughNaturemadeatriflingmistake,andstuckthesternornamentsofalotofprizebull-dogsontotherumpsoftheoxen. 

           Nextcamethequestionofprovisioningandmedicines,onewhichrequiredthemostcarefulconsideration,forwhatwehadtodowastoavoidlumberingthewagon,andyettotakeeverythingabsolutelynecessary. Fortunately,itturnedoutthatGoodisabitofadoctor,havingatsomepointinhispreviouscareermanagedtopassthroughacourseofmedicalandsurgicalinstruction,whichhehasmoreorlesskeptup. Heisnot,ofcourse,qualified,butheknowsmoreaboutitthanmanyamanwhocanwriteM.D.afterhisname,aswefoundoutafterwards, andhehadasplendidtravellingmedicinechestandasetofinstruments. WhilstwewereatDurbanhecutoffaKafir’sbigtoeinawaywhichitwasapleasuretosee.