AFRICA. 
rhem, In order to avoid the infe£lIou5 ex- 
halations which every now and then pro- 
ceeded from it. 
Not quite fix months before thefe poor 
Hottentots had taken Ihelter in this place, to 
avoid the cruelties committed by the plant- 
ers ; but, without knowing it, they had 
expofed themfelves to atrocities of another 
kind. Befides the dangerous Bofhmen, who 
might every moment difcover them, they 
had to defend themfelves alfo agalnfl: ferocious 
animals, and particularly wild dogs, w^hich 
occafioned great ravage among their flocks. 
Having given them fome advice refpefting 
their fafety, and made them a few prefents, 
I offered to purchafe fome (heep from them, 
which they promifed to bring next morning. 
As I was preparing to take leave of them, I 
was obliged to enter one of their huts, to 
flielter myfelf from a dreadful florm which 
fuddenly- came upon us, and which con- 
tinued full three hours, during which I was 
almoft inundated. The whole kraal was in 
danger of being fwept entirely away ; many 
of the huts were violently fhaken ; the tor- 
rents hurried before them fand and earth, 
which they wafhed down in their courfe, 
and 
