12 LACK OF WATER. [169O. 



we found there a very handsome Horse, of a reddish bay 

 Colour, his Main and Tail trailing on the ground ; 'twas 

 fierce, and never had any Horse a better Shape, nor a more 

 magnificent Chest : he ran away immediately, and let us see 

 that his Heels were good. I know not what Name to give to 

 another Animal which we also saw, but were not so near it ; 

 I believe 'twas a sort of Cat, but one of our Company would 

 have it to be a Fo.x : And 1 am mistaken, if he is more 

 happy in his Conjecture than the Translators of the Psalms^ 

 into Frcnclh, when they make David say. His Enemies should 

 he a Prey to Foxes. We found most of our Companions 

 aslioar catching Turtles, we went along with them up into 

 another part of the Country and digg'd, in hopes of meeting 

 with fresh Water, but all our Labour was in vain. Night 

 came upon us, and we slept on the Sand, it being a Star-light 

 Night. Nor were we less weaken'd by Hunger and Thirst, 

 than tir'd with Hunting. As we lay all. of us in a sound 

 sleep, we were on a sudden waken'd by the braying Musick 

 of a Rustick Regiment of Asses, of which we cou'd not rid 

 our selves, but by braying as they did, and firing twice or 

 thrice a Fuzee at them ; but they had scarce turn'd their 

 Backs upon us, when another Troop of the same Beasts 

 entertain'd us with the same Song : They were accompany 'd 

 by above five hundred Goats, which surrounding us, we cou'd 

 sleep no longer : At last these Animals retir'd, and we 

 imagin'd if we follow'd them, they might perhaps lead us to 

 some hidden Spring. As we believ'd, it happen'd, part of 

 them descended into a little Pit, where there was Water, 

 which they drank : We rejoyc'd all of us, as if we had found 

 a Treasure ; but this Water was also salt. These Beasts 

 having been forc'd to drink of it from their Births, 'tis now 

 become customary to them. 



1 Allusion to verse 11 of Psalm Ixiii : " Trndcntur in manus gladii, partes 

 vnJpium erunC' (" That they may be a portion for foxes"). (Mailer.) 

 Probably version by Marot and de Beze. 



