AFRICA. 73 
towards the biifh, I took up my ftation upon 
a fmall eminence, at the diftance of fifty paces ; 
but, looking behind me, I obferved difmay 
painted in the countenances of all my compa- 
nions. John Slaber, one of my hoft's fons, a 
cololTus fix feet high, came, however, and 
flood clofe by me ; faying that he would ra- 
ther lofe his life than defert me. By the pal- 
pitation of his heart, and his difordered looks, 
I concluded that the poor youth depended 
little on his own courage, and I perceived that 
be had need of fome refolute perfon to revive 
his drooping fpirits. "Whatever might have 
been his terror,! am of opinion that he thought 
himfelf in more fafety near me, than in the 
ipiddle of his daftardly companions, whom 
w^e faw draggling through the plain, ^nd keep- 
ing at a very refpedful diftance. 
They had all cautioned me, in cafe I fhould 
get near enough to the animal to be heard, 
that I ought not to cry faa^ faa^ becaufe thefe 
words would make the tiger furious; and that 
he would fpring upon the perfon v^rho had pro- 
nounced them fooner than upon any of the 
i:eft : but as I wae in the open plain, and in a 
f|)ot w^here I could not l)e encumbered, I re- 
peatedly 
