AFRICA. 39 
of a ftone flldingon the Ice, after being thrown 
with great force. 
Difappointed In my hopes of getting near 
enough to fhoot fome of thefe ifabeila-coloured 
wild affes, notwithftandlng the fatigue and 
trouble to which I fubjeded myfelf, I naade 
amends for the lofs by attacking the birds, 
w^ithout number, prefented by this country, 
which now refounded for the firft; time with 
the report of a fufee. Plants, birds and qua- 
drupeds, and, in fhort, almoft every objcd:, 
even to the difpofition and form of the moun- 
tains, were new to me. The ground was 
every where covered with the moft beautiful 
flowers; and I faw fluttering around me, on 
all fides, oVvT this rural and brilliant parterre, 
a multitude of fmall birds of the fpecies of the 
fugar- eater, which, embelliflied with the live- 
lieft colours, came to fip their nedlar, and 
feemed to be fo many animated flowers them- 
felves. The odoriferous juices on w^hicli they 
fed, being transformed iiito their fubftance, 
gave them an ambrefial perfum^ ; which mad^ 
jne regret that I fliould have to place them one 
^ay in my colledion, with birds which, hav- 
D 4 ing 
