24S TRAVELS IN 
was furprifed that fo fine a country fhould be 
entirely deftitute of inhabitants, and that wc 
did not meet with a fingle CaiFre. Hans 
pretended that the alarm had been too gene- 
ral; and though we had aheady travelled 
thirty leagues, I began to defpair of feeing 
even one kraal: every thing feemed to an- 
nounce that thefe people had retired farther 
towards the centre; and I conjedured that if 
we fhould difcover any of the inhabitants, 
they could only be fpies from the hordes, 
who, defirous of promoting the general good, 
ranged the country, and kept themfelves 
concealed in ambufh. 
While I was converfing familiarly with 
my people, I perceived a fmall flock of ante- 
lopes, which, paffing quite clofe to us, made 
off full fpeed, being purfued by a pack of 
feventeen wild dogs. I inftantly mounted 
my horfe, and fet out on a full gallop to de- 
fend the antelopes and to attack the wild 
dogs; but I unluckily foon loft fight of them 
both. As the ground was covered with 
pebbles concealed under the grafs, my horfe 
ftumbled at every ftep, and we both narrowly 
efcaped having our necks broke. Returning 
therefore very deliberately in order to join 
my 
