336 -TRAVELS IN 
four days journey before we could reach tlig 
mouth of the river ; that there we fhould rua 
great rifk of being maffacred by the Bolh- 
men, who were numerous in all thofe parts ; 
and that we fhould find the country, as we 
proceeded, more arid than any we had yet 
feen. I have always fufpefted that thefe men 
were themfelves fome of the Bofhmen, of 
whom they wiflied to infpire us with fear. 
They had no doubt their reafons for endea- 
vouring to prevent us from advancing farther, 
where their horde probably was; but we could 
never learn whence they came, or what brought 
them to the place where they found us. Thus 
much is certain- — the firft of thefe men that per- 
ceived us endeavoured to conceal himfelf, was 
very uneafy when we difcovered him, and it 
was not till fome minutes after that we found 
there were three of them. They had all ar- 
rows which were poifoned, and each carried^ 
befides, an affagay, the point of which was 
formed of a well-fharpened fifli-bone. This 
adventure excited fufpicions in our little party. 
Too weak to brave every danger, we held a 
council; and, as the time I had intended tobe- 
ftow on our excurfion was expired, we unani- 
moufly 
