AFRICA; 225 
and I quitted the grotto, after leavlilg my name 
infcribcd on that virgin rock, which before 
had perhaps never been vifited by human 
being. 
In the night the Houzouaaas ran to my tent, 
with great demonftrations of joy, to inform 
me, that they had at length perceived the fig- 
iaals of their comrades ; and they pointed out 
to me, in the north-weft point of the horizon, 
fires, which they faid were made by one of 
their hordes, and which they had anfwered, 
letting the horde know that they would join 
it on the evening of the next day but one. 
Had my company been lefs numerous, I 
would gladly have remained a w^eek by this 
delightful brook, and near the cool grotto with 
which I had been fo much pleafed. But moft 
of tny people were eager to return home ; the 
river they had in view increafed their impa- 
tience ; and the next morning they fliowed 
as much ardour for departing, as they had ex- 
prefled unwillingnefs the day before to quit 
the brook. Accordingly I aflented to their 
wifli ; and about noon v/e reached the banks 
of the much-defired river, without meeting 
Vol. III. with 
