Mr. Park's Journey Info Africa. 901 



«hofe caprice or fanaticifm he was in hourly danger of 

 deftru&ion. 



On the morning of the i ft of July I79 6 > Mr - Park was {o 

 fortunate as to break the bonds of his captivity. He had 

 contrived to procure at his departure his own horfe, faddle 

 . and bridle ; a few articles of apparel, and alfo his pocket 

 compafs. This laft he had concealed in the fand during his 

 confinement. He rode forwards the whole of the firft day 

 without Mopping. " I felt," faid he, " like one recovered 

 from ficknefs ; I breathed freer ; I found unufual lightnefs 

 in my limbs. Even the defert looked pleafant ; and I dreaded 

 nothing but falling in with fome wandering parties of Moors, 

 who might convey me back to the land of thieves and mur- 

 derers, from which I had juft efcaped." 



The rirft emotions of his mind fubfiding however into 

 fober reflection, he foon found his condition to be very de- 

 plorable. His horfe grew tired, and he experienced the 

 torments of thirft raging beyond description. Whenever he 

 came to a tree, he climbed it in hopes of difcovering a water- 

 ing-place, but in vain ; he chewed the leaves, but found they 

 were all bitter, and afforded no relief. In a vaft wildernefs 

 of the African continent, without an attendant or guide, with- 

 out food and water, or the profpc6t of procuring any ; in a 

 country where the lion and panther prowling for their prey 

 are lefs to be apprehended than man, what fituation could 

 be more forlorn and dreadful ? He proceeded onwards, 

 however, directing his route nearly eaft-fouth-eaft, in the 

 view of reaching by the fhorteft courfe pofiible a diftrift that 

 might afford him (belter. A heavy rain about midnight 

 enabled him to quench his burning thirft, by fpreading his 

 clothes on the ground and fucking the moifture out of them ; 

 and a muddy pool, which he found foon after, yielded relief 

 to his horfe. The reft of the night, and nearly the whole of 

 the enfuing day, neither water nor food was to be found : 

 and he muft inevitably have perifhed, had he not fortunately 

 towards evening, lighted upon a few fcattered huts of fome 



^oulah 



