The drought of unusual duration had bereft the air and the earth of every particle of moisture.

The element which I breathed appeared to have stagnated into noxiousness and putrefaction.

I was astonished at observing the enormous diminution of my strength.

My brows were heavy, my intellects benumbed, my sinews enfeebled, and my sensations universally unquiet.
These prognostics were easily interpreted.

What I chiefly dreaded was, that they would disable me from executing the task which I had undertaken.