AFRICA, 175 
chafes their fervices, and puts himfelf under 
their protedion. 
If my plan of tf averfing from fouth to north 
the whole of Africa was at all pradicable, I 
repeat it, it could have been accomplifhed only 
with the Houzouanas. I am convinced that 
fifty men of this temperate, brave, and inde- 
fatigable nation would have been fufficient to 
enable me to carry it into execution ; and I 
fhall always regret that I became acquainted 
with them too late for the trial, and at a period 
when numberlefs misfortunes had compelled 
me, for a time at leaft, to renounce the idea. 
With whatever confidence, hovv^ever, their 
fidelity had infpired me, I did not negled the 
precautions didated by prudence. I . never 
trufted myfelf with them beyond the precinds 
of my camp, unlefs when well armed. I will 
even confefs that, at firft, I made my people 
keep watch ; that I had conftantly a dog la 
my tent during the night ; and that my fire- 
arms were always well loaded. But at the 
fame time I mull alfo acknowledge that, in 
taking thefe precautions, I had not fo much 
in view the Houzouanas of the horde, as the 
ifeft of their nation, wlio, not being acquainted , 
and 
