14? TRAVELS TO DI3C0VE-R 



variety of fpccies, which they had never before feen, added 

 greatly to the fatigue which the thicknefs of the woods had 

 occafioned. Mountains prcfented themielves over moun- 

 tains, broken into terrible precipices and ravines, by vio-- 

 lent torrents and conftant llorms ; their black and bare tops, 

 feemed as it were calcined by the rays of a burning fun,. 

 and by incclTant lightnings and thunder. Great numbers of. 

 wild beafts alfo prefented themfelves everywhere in thefe 

 dark forells, and feemed only to be hindered from devour- 

 ing them by their wonder at feeing fo many men in fo 

 lonely a lituation. At lail the woods began to grow thinner, 

 and fome fields appeared where the people were fitting arm- 

 ed, guarding their fmall flocks of half-ftarved goats and 

 kine, and crops of millet, of which they faw a confiderable 

 quantity fown. The men were black, their hair very grace- 

 fully plaited, and were altogether naked^ excepting a fmall 

 piece of leather that covered their middle. At this place 

 they were met by twelve monks, four of whom were di- 

 flinguiflied by their advanced years and the refped paid to. 

 them by the others. 



Having refted their mules and camels a fhort time, they 

 j^gain began their journey by the fide of a great lake, near 

 which was a very high mountain, and this they were too 

 v/eary to attempt to pafs. Full of difcontent and defpon- 

 dency, they halted at the foot of this mountain, where they 

 palled the night, having received a cow for fupper, a pre- 

 Cent from the cojivent. Here Matthew (the amballador) fe-- 

 parated his baggage from that of the caravan, and left it to 

 the care of the monks. He had probably made fome little 

 money in Portugal ; and, difirufiing his reception with the 

 king, wifely determined to place ir out of danger. The pre-. 



a caution,. 



