AFRICA. 211 
ftupefied by the fpedacle, they had neither the 
ftrength to fly nor the aflTurance to advance to- 
wards us. 
To free them from this painful ftate, I drew 
near ; and, without feeming to perceive their 
embarraflment, caufed my interpreters to aik 
them if they had among them any perfons in- 
feded with the malady which had driven us 
ft'om the weftern mountains. My queftica 
filled them with terror. They were acquaint- 
ed by experience, as well as my Nimiquas, 
with its devaftations ; but at that time they 
were not attacked by it ; and, upon receiving 
their anfwer, I inftantly ordered my camp to 
be formed near them. 
During the lafl four days, my animals had 
travelled more than forty leagues without taft- 
ing water or food, except once at .the difeafed 
horde. I found pafturage, however, in the 
neighbourhood of my prefent encampment; 
and I propofed, according to my promife, to 
halt'fome days in order to give time to my 
whole caravan to recover their ftrength. Oa 
this account, I was defirous of eftablifliing an 
intercourfe with the new horde and conciliating 
their friendfliip. This, however, appeared at 
P 2 firil 
