AFRICA. 77 
with one voice ; but their anfwer was in the 
negative. In fhort, my propofal was relifhed 
by nobody. Fired with indignation at their 
timidity, " Friend," faid I to my Hottentot, 
who w^as no lefs animated than his mafter, 
the animal muft either be dead, or ex« 
tremely ill. Get on horfeback, approach 
in the fame manner as I did, and endea- 
" vour to difcover in what fituation he Is : 
leave me to guard the entrance ; and, if he 
*' attempts to efcape, I hope I fliall be able to 
difpatch him. We may complete the bu- 
fmefs, without the affiftance of thefe pol- 
troons." He had no fooner entered, than 
he called out to me, that he perceived the 
tiger extended at his length, without any ap- 
parent motion ; and that he believed him to 
be dead. That he might, however, be fure 
of it, he fired one fliot more ; upon which I 
ran up, my whole body being agitated with 
gladnefs and exultation, while my courageous 
Hottentot fhared in my tranfports. Joy hav- 
ing redoubled our ftrength, we dragged the 
animal to the open plain ; and, when dif- 
played to view, he appeared to be of an enor- 
mous fize. I then began to take his dimen- 
fions 
