AFRICA. 
261 
they parted from the Houzouanas, they had 
defired to return to the camp at Orange-River 
the fhorteft way ; and now they aiked to re- 
main w^here we were, without alleging a fin- 
gle reafon for it. But fach requefts were 
little calculated to have any weight with me. I 
was not a man to change my purpofes to gra- 
tify the inclinations of people of whom I had 
fo much reafon to complain ; and I therefore 
declared that 1 fhould perfift in my intentions. 
There were two different ways to Orange- 
River, between which I had to choofe. One 
was to proceed to the weft till I reached the 
fea-fide, proceed along the coaft to the miouth 
of the river, and then travel up its banks to the 
camp of the giraffe. For the other, I had only 
to follow the diredion of the mountains; and, 
as they ran fouth, thereby , pointing out my 
courfe, this would be the moft certain as well 
as the fhorteft and eafieft. ^ : - 
I was, however, more inclined to the for- 
mer, becaufe, by travelling along the river's 
fide, I fhould difcover its courfe, which I much 
wifhed. But, fhort as I was of tobacco and 
other fimilar ftores, how prevail on perfons 
already murmuring at the diminution of their 
S 3 allow- 
