AFRICA. 215 
which neither crowned heads nor ambaffadors 
would affift ; but which, by a pledge fimple 
and patriarchal, might be maintained as invio- 
late, and rendered perhaps more durable, 
than by the pompous words humanity, juftice, 
and honour, fo often employed to mafk per- 
fidy and falfehood. The Houzouanas offered 
to accede to it ; and the other party were too 
much interefted in its conclufion not to con- 
fent alfo. The pledge was an ox and two 
fheep, which the horde gave to the Houzou- 
anas ; and the two nations promifed to be 
friends, or rather one of the two engaged to 
live at peace with the other. 
Upon quitting the horde, we continued our 
march for nine miles together without halting, 
following the fmuofities of the chain of moun- 
tains ; and, juft as it was dark, arrived at a 
fpring containing water fufficient to form a 
rivulet, v/hich was overfhaded by mimoAts. 
We had fcarcely approached it when w^e were 
fuddenly alarmed by a loud noile. It pro- 
ceeded from a herd of wild animals, which, 
having taken up their ftation on the banks of 
the rivulet, as foon as they perceived us be-- 
took themfelves to flight. 
P 4 Defirous 
