AFRICA. 2S9 
Ker impenetrable retreat, would be rafh even 
to madnefs, without previoufly fecuring every 
kind of afliftance that can command fuccefs. 
And even this would be unpardonable, unlefs 
required by urgent neceffity* 
Savages know by experience the peril of 
fuch enterprifes, and therefore never fettle in a 
place where they fufped: there are any whelps. 
Woe betide the horde that may be near them ! 
Almoft every night their herds will be attacked. 
It is a tribute they muft neceffarily pay, and 
from which they will feldom endeavour to 
guard themfelves, choofmg rather to wait with 
patience till the young family, ceafing to be a 
burden to their parents, (hall go and fix them- 
felves elfewhere* 
The horde near this thicket would never 
have ventured to propofe to me fuch an attack, 
but for their high confidence in my fire-arms ; 
and I, notwithftandlng the afliftance of my 
hunters and my numerous company, would 
not have hefitated to refufe, if, when afking 
this fervice of me as an extraordinary favour, 
they had not confented to Chare with us the 
whole of the danger. 
Thefe were my motives for adopting the 
S 2 refo-* 
