A F R I C A. 259 
firft difcharge of their weapons without re- 
turning it, and to endeavour, by gentle means, 
to come to an explanation before we ufed our 
arms, which would fecure us the advantage, 
fhould we be compelled to have recourfe to 
them^ I entertained no doubt that this me- 
thod would fucceed fhould we be attacked 
in the day time ; but if in the night, the cafe 
would have been different. In this prudent 
plan of accommodation I however faw diffi- 
culties almoft infurmountable; and it w^as to 
avoid every kind of misfortune that we had 
always made it a rule to fleep at the diftance 
of fifty paces from my tent, over which I 
took care to leave my flag floating, that it 
might be perceived at a great diftance. This 
little ftratagem fecured us at leaft from the 
firft furprife. 
Notwithftanding our apprehenfions, we 
did not give over our courfes and hunting 
excurfions. Water n-w grew more fcarce, 
and I began to entertain very ferious appre- 
henfions. One day, when the weather was 
cloudy, which enabled us to make a very 
agreeable and gentle march for more than 
fix hours, I perceived Kees flop all of a fud» 
den, turn his face and nofe towards the 
S a windj 
