AFRICA. 381 
and a rear-guard. A forced march of two 
days, or rather two nights, performed with the 
greateft regularity, conduded us to the banks 
of the river which we had fo long wiflied to 
fee. During the night-time I had not neg- 
/ leded to order my people to difcharge their 
pieces on both fides of us every fix minutes ; 
and from time to time I gave my horfes, which 
were ready to faint with the heat and fatigue, 
a refrefhment of water from my jars. My 
cattle had neither eat nor drank; they all panted 
for breath, and feemed eveiy moment ready 
to drop down on the fpot; neverthelefs, though 
It was late in the evening before we arrived at 
the Buffalo River, my relays, and all the cattle 
that marched at liberty, having difcovered the 
ftream, began to run forwards acrofs the mea- 
dows in the greateft diforder to quench their 
thirft. Thofe which drew the carriages re- 
fumed their courage, and completed the paf- 
fage in lefs than a quarter of an hour ; but 
had it not been for the attention of my people, 
who cut the traces of the moft intractable, my 
three carriages would have been overturned la 
ithe river. We all of us follovv^ed the example 
of our animals, and the bath foon made me 
forget my fatigue. 
When 
