270 TRAVELS IN 
again. They had indeed about thirty along 
with them; and. when I mentioned the fire 
which we had obferved in the night-time^ 
they affured me that it v*^as kindled by 
them; but that they had not feen mine, which 
would have alarmed them much. Having 
queftloned them refpeding the veflei which 
had been fliipwrecked, they only repeated 
what had been told me by others; which was, 
that a fliip had really been loft on the coafts 
of CafFraria. After this information, I con- 
cluded that this misfortune had happened 
beyond the country of the Tambouchis, oppo- 
fite to Madagafcar, and towards the channel 
of Mofambique. They added, that, without 
mentioning other difficulties which muft be 
encountered in their territories, it would be 
neceflary, befides other rivers, to pafs one 
which was too broad to be croffed by fwim- 
ming, or to advance a great way towards the 
north to find a place where it could be ford- 
ed ; that they had leen feveral white people 
among the Tambouchis ; that they themfelves 
had purchafed, by barter, feveral articles from 
thefe people ; and, above all,, a great number of 
nails procured from the wreck of the veffel ; 
but that. behiP" then at war with the Tam- 
bouchis. 
