AFRICA. 447' 
heaped on one another, exhibited a fingular 
and fantaftic fpedacle; but none could be 
better calculated for a retreat to the BoQimen. 
On feeing them, I whifpered to myfelf that I 
ought to be on my guard : yet, notwithftand- 
ing my miftruft, I was taken unawares. 
My people were bufy in pitching ray camp. 
I in the mean time having perceived fome 
wood-peckers of a fcarce fpecics, which 1 
have named the rock wood-pecker, followed 
them, and found myfelf infenfibly on one of 
the cliffs, from which I overlooked my camp. 
Suddenly I heard three difcharges of my 
large carbine as fignals of alarm. Looking 
about me, I faw, on the one hand, my people 
running in diforder, and, on the other, a party 
of Bollimen, w^ho had feized my oxen, and 
were driving them into a defile, where they 
would foon be out of fight. 
I defcended the mountains with precipi- 
tancy, and, when I arrived at its foot, I found 
Klaas galloping to inform me of my misfor« 
tune. He gave me his horfe. I mounted 
it, and rode full fpeed toward the defile ; but 1 
had fcarcely advanced fifty paces, w^hen my" 
horfe flumbled in a porcupine's hole, and 
threw 
