A F 5 I C A. 203 
a great deal of ground to little purpofe before 
we could recover our way. 
Agreeably to the rule I had laid down of 
fending a few perfons before me, when I ap- 
proached a new horde, to inform them of 
my arrival and conciliate their friendfhip, I 
thought proper to obferve the fame praftice on. 
the prefent occafion. It feemed even of im- 
portance that I fhould choofe, as deputies for 
that purpofe, feme of the Houzouanas, who 
had boafted of being the friends and allies of 
all the hordes in this diftrid:. But, as they had 
told me they were now at peace with them, I 
concluded that this was not their habitual ftate ; 
and that, confequently, they and their neigh- 
bours would behave to each other with referve. 
For that reafon I was unwilling to difpatch 
any of the Houzouanas. So much intimacy 
appeared to me fufpicious : not that I thought 
the latter capable of treachery ; but I was afraid 
left the horde fhould be prejudiced againft me, 
when they found me attended by fo many 
followers, and faw me introduced by people 
who were certainly more dreaded than loved. 
To fend any of my own Hottentots was 
impracticable. If they went alone, they could 
not 
