AFRICA. 261 
every fenfe more acute ; and I myfelf (I 
hope my affertion will not be doubted), after 
paffing five or fix nnonths In the defarts, 
when, following their example, I turned my 
face from one fide to the other, was at length 
able, like them, to difcover either a river or 
a pond, and we never failed to find them. 
Being refolved to pafs the night at Kees- 
fountain, I embraced the opportunity of a 
few moments leifure to prepare the buftard I 
had killed ; and as the diflant clouds coUed- 
ed together feemed to threaten a ftorm, I or- 
dered the oxen to be unloaded, and my tent 
to be ereded. 
Before night the rain came on in great 
abundance; but it did not continue long, and 
it fcarcely ceafed when I began to range all 
the neighbourhood in fearch of fmall birds. 
In a fpot, not far from our encampment, I 
perceived two of thofe golden yellow fer- 
pents, fo common and well known in the 
colonies under the name of hooper -capel^ ftart 
lip at my feet. Thefe reptiles, as. foon as 
they faw me, reared themfelves ere£l:, fwell- 
ing up their heads prodigioufly, and hiffing 
in a moft frightful manner. As I knew that 
the bite of thefe animals is mortal, and th^t 
S 3 the 
