TRAVELS IN 
they fald, were Impaffable for tliefe animals. 
Though this plan was agreeable in certain 
points of view, it difpleafed me in others. 
Happily, however, they enabled me to form 
another, which 1 determined to execute. 
I have already remarked, that it was by a 
fortunate chance that I fell in with them. They 
were then on their way to the eaftern coafts, 
and had halted on the banks of the rivulet only 
to w^it for fome of their parties, who had de- 
tached themfelves from the general body, in 
iorder to go a-marauding in the plains. Their 
route tov>rards the eaft w^s little different from 
that which I propofed to take ; and I faw that, 
by marching along with them or engaging 
them to attend me, I ihould obtain trufty 
guides as well as abk defenders. It was pof- 
fible that I might meet with bodies of Hou- 
7^ouanas, with whom, were noniC of thefe peo- 
ple in my company, I might be obliged to 
combat. United to thern, fhpuld I even be 
attacked by a wh^ole nation, I had nothing to 
fear. 
I did not, therefore, hefitate a mornent ; and, 
to efcort me as far as Fifli-River, I offered 
them four milch-cows. To people who often 
expofe 
