AFRICA. 153 
^rmed with bov/s and arrows ; and the whol^ 
troop, entering the defile, pofted themfelves 
on a Imall eminence, from which they w^atch- 
ed our cpndua: with fteadinefs and affurance, 
in order to determine thereby what conduft 
they fhould purfue. 
At the diftance at which I flood, I had no 
hopes of making them hear me ; and, befides, 
what could I fay to people with whofe lan- 
guage I was totally unacquainted ? I refolved, 
therefore, to employ one which I fuppofed 
they might comprehend ; and I made, as did 
alfo my companions, every fign of friendfliip 
that the circumftances of the moment fug- 
gefted. This language, however, v/as new 
to them : they feemed not to underftand it ; 
and 1 found myfelf reduced to the neceffityof 
trying the only one likely to be intelligible, I 
mean that of prefents. 
I advanced then towards their huts ; but I 
found them all empty, except one in which 
there was a little dog. At the entrance of 
another laya heap of reeds, and a few fharp- 
ened bones, deftined, no doubt, for making 
arrows. Imitating the manner of thofe whp 
^ttraft domeftip animal^ by placing before 
them 
