3o6 TRAVELS IN 
eighteen or twenty leagues from my camp^ 
and on the fame fide of the river. 
Certainly, had I known thefe circumftances, 
I might have faved myfelf much pain and la* 
hour : but how could I divine them ? And 
who, in my place, would not have been equally 
deceived ? My guides themfelves, confounded 
at fo much arr, were afraid I fliould not be- 
lieve them, but fufped them of favouring the 
thieves, and affifting them to put their booty 
in a ftate of fecurity, by making me lofe fo 
much valuable time. To convince me of their 
good faith, they would in every inftancc paft 
the river before me, and fatisfy themfelves that 
the footfteps adually re-appeared, before they 
m^ould advife me to follow them. 
This laft paiTage had nearly coft me my life. 
I attempted it as ufual .on horfeback, while two 
fwimmers conduded the horfe by the bridle. 
About the middle of the river, one of the rings 
of the bit gave way. Finding himfelf incom- 
moded by the other, he jerked his head fo vio- 
lently as to make the fecond fwimmer let go 
his hold; and the horfe was accordingly at the 
mercy of the ftream. A« I had no means of 
command- 
