156 TRAVELS IN 
their idiom is fufficient to enable one ealily 
to comprehend the moft important things. 
Three weeks had now elapfed fmce the 
departure of my envoys ; but I was not the 
firft to form any refledions on the caufe of 
their delay : I always kept my uneafmefs to 
myfelf, not wifhing to occaiion any to thofe 
around me ; for, by not concealing my fuf- 
picions, I fhould only have fupplied them 
with arms to deftroy my projedts. They 
could not, without fadnefs, think on my de- 
termined refolution of penetrating into Caf- 
fraria. I fometimes furprifed my people dif- 
coorfing on this fubjedt, and more or lefs 
murmuring againft their mafter; but at bot- 
tom they were ftill attached to me, and in 
their converfation I was the principal objedl 
of their agitation and fear. They did not 
hsfitate to call me a rafli man, who, appa- 
rently caring very little for his life, obfti- 
nately wiHied to make then) fharers with 
him in a moft melancholy fate, by conduc- 
ing them to deilruftion. I had too much 
reafon to apprehend that they had all agreed 
to quit mc, in cafe I fliould perfiftin my re- 
folutions; and I judged that nothing embar- 
raffcd them but the manner of executing 
7 their 
