AFRICA. 179 
felf underftood, and I comprehended much 
better what they fald to me. 
They were contmually importunuig me to 
follow them to their country, and they twen- 
ty times repeated all thofe inducements which 
my interpreter had mentioned on his arrival. 
I was indeed too much inclined ta liften to 
thefe feducing invitations; but it never was my 
intention to fet out with them : the reafon of 
this will be feen hereafter. I therefore beg- 
ged to be excufed, telling them that it was 
impoffible for me to get ready fo foon a« 
they wiflied; and then examining them all 
in the ftrideft manner, I added, that, not 
being acquainted with their country myfelf, 
I had been told that it was filled with moun- 
tains and woods, difficult to be pafled, and ' 
that on this account I could not carry my 
oxen and carriages along with me. They ap- 
peared to be very little affedled with this de- 
claration; and from the pleafure which they 
feemed to teftify on my promifing foon to pay 
them a viu^, I judged that they had no great 
hopes of getting polTelfion of my large pick- 
axes, and the iron that furrounded the wheels 
of my waggons. 
In proportion, however, as I exprefled 
N 2 my 
