CAPTAIN TUCKEY'S NARRATIVE. 193 



Having examined every thing here, and being told by 

 our guide that there was a banza not much higher up, 

 where we might get some victuals, I proceeded towards 

 it, scrambling over the rocks with infinite fatigue for an 

 hour, and then penetrating through a close wood (the first 

 we have seen) near it, until it became quite dark. This 

 seemed to be the haunt of buffaloes, whose dung fresh 

 dropped, still smoked. At length about eight o'clock we 

 reached the landing place ; and by the light of the moon 

 proceeded over new hills towards the spot where our guide 

 supposed the banza to be situated. I soon however dis- 

 covered that he had lost his way ; and seeing a fire on the 

 side of a hill, and hearing human voices, I desired him to 

 enquire; but the people were afraid to come to us, and 

 we could not find any path to get to them. After some 

 time spent in halloing, we understood from them that the 

 banza was deserted. 



As Ave had neither victuals nor water, and nearly 

 choaked with thirst, it was necessary we should endeavour 

 if possible to procure the latter ; and after an hour's walk 

 one of the men came down from the hill, and conducted 

 us through thick underwood, where we were almost obliged 

 to crawl, and through grass twice our own height, to a spot 

 clear of Avood on the side of the hill ; and finding it useless 



Co 



