AFRICA. 325 
toire. I applied fomentations to the wound 
myfelf, afterwards wrapped it up with feveral 
bandages foaked in brandy, and, left my 
patient fhould regret the ufe to which I ap- 
plied it, I made him fwallow a large bum- 
per of it. For feveral days he rode in one 
of my carriages; and this accident was at- 
tended with no other effeds. 
The fnow rr^ountains appeared to me like 
the land of promife, for I found it very > 
difficult to reach them, as one obftacle con- 
ftantly fucceeded another. On the 7th, when 
I was about to depart, perceiving, when I 
numbered my cattle, that three of them were 
miffing, my people difperfed themfelves on 
all fides to fearch for them, and were fortu- 
nate enough to fucceed; but this operation 
required fo much time, that we could not 
yoke them till feven in the evening. The 
days had now attained to their greateft 
length, but the coolnefs of the nights was 
extremely agreeable ; and, as I conjedlured 
that we were no more than four or five 
leagpes from Platte river, I intended, when 
we arrived there, not to advance any farther. 
Scarcely had we travelled two or three 
leagues, when one of my Hottentots in the 
y 3 rear- 
