34© TRAVELS IN 
main in it ; but, upon fuch occafions, my 
beard well foaked afforded me conliderable 
relief : I derived fon:ie advantage alfo from 
the form of my hat, which I moiftened in 
the like manner. In thefe critical moments, 
when oppreffed by an unquenchable thirft, 
having remarked that the quantity of water 
I drank ferved only to inflame me the more, 
I refolved to drink in future like the dogs, 
that is to fay, to lap. This flrange method 
gave me wonderful eafe, for a very little 
water was then fufBcient to allay my thirft, 
and I no longer feared to be incommoded 
by it. 
As long as we remained on the banks of 
the Platte river we were not much diflurbed 
by lions. Our artillery,. which thundered 
on every fide during the day, kept them at a 
diflance, though we heard them roaring 
every night ; but, except once, they never 
ventured fo near us as to occafion any alarm. 
The panthers alfo, at the rifing and fetting 
of the fun, gave us figns of their being on 
the banks of the river; but they kept at a 
refpeftable diftance. In the middle of the 
night they advanced much nearer to us, but 
we were conftantly warned of their approach 
I by 
