AFRICA. V 351 
crofled It, that Is to fay, within a fortnight, 
had rifen more than twenty feet. It flowed 
now on a level with its banks, and carried 
along with it feveral whole trees which it had 
torn up by the roots, and even formed, in fe- 
veral parts of the plain, extenfive lakes. In a 
word, my camp, which at firft had been fta- 
tioned fix hundred paces f|-om the water's edge, 
and had not been moved, was now diftant 
from it not above fifty. Almoft all the trees 
were nearly covered by it, their tops and a 
few branches only being perceptible. This 
fight, one of the grandeft I ever beheld In 
Africa, if it had not been at variance with my 
fchemes, would long have feafted my eyes. 
Befides other inconveniences to the danger of 
my caravan, this fwell of the river deprived 
me of the advantage of hunting hippopo- 
tamufes ; for thefe amphibious animals, as 
they do not' love muddy and troubled waters, 
had retired towards the fea-ihore. 
Many of my new favages belonging to 
hordes on the other fide of the river regretted, 
on account of its overflow, tl^eir having re- 
mained fo long with me. The Gheyfliquas, 
on the contrary, free from thia occafion of uji- 
eafincfs, 
