A F R i C Ac 145 
to me to extend from fouth to north farther 
than the eye could reach. I was unwilling, 
howeverj to entangle myfelf among them at 
hazard. 
On the other hand. It was impoffihle for me 
to difpatch fome of my Hottentots before, ac- 
cording to my ufual cuftom, to announce my 
approach, and to prepare the minds of the 
Houzouanas for my arrival. Had I made fuch 
a propofal to any of them, they wquld have 
formally refufed me. I was loth even to put 
the attachment of Klaas to fo great a trial, 
whatever readinefs he had hitherto fhewn to 
obey me. In this embarraifment I could de--- 
pend only on myfelf, and v/ait the circum- 
fiances that might arife to determine my con- 
dud. 
I halted, therefore, and ordered my encamp- 
ment to be formed, in hopes that I fhould dif- 
cover, during the night, the fires lighted by 
the Houzouanas in their mountains. Thefe 
fignals, I concluded, would point out to me 
the fpots which they inhabited, and, by di- 
reding my route, prevent me from lofing my 
way. It was, hov/ever, neceffary that I fhould 
not be difcovered by them, and that confe- 
VoL. TIL L quently 
