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AFRICA. 275 
country, I had formed an irrevocable refolu- 
tion to crofs it, and the overture I made was 
only a ftratagem to reconcile early to this 
idea fuch of my Hottentots as I had w^ith 
me, in order that, when we returned to my 
camp, they might be better able to infplre 
their companions with confidence, and to 
teftify the greater aftonifliment at their refift- 
ance, fliould they fhew any. 
Before I left thefe CafFres, I diftributed 
among them, as well as among my Hotten- 
tots, a quantity of tobacco; and I referved no 
more than was fufficient to ferve us till we 
returned to our camp. This made room for 
the birds with which we were encumbered, 
and alfo for thofe that I might be able to 
procure by the way. Thefe ten favages af- 
fifted us to pack up our baggage and to yoke 
our oxen; after which we wifhed one another 
a good journey, and fet out to purfue two op- 
pofite routes, they towards the north and we 
towards the fouth. 
We fpent three days, during which no- 
thing remarkable happened, in reaching the 
fo much wiflied for banks of the Groot-Vis. 
This forced march having fatigued both us 
and our cattle confiderably, I refolved to pafs 
T z the 
