Africa. 163 
fenctiallting regions like a fairy land. The 
calices of all thefe flowers abound with ex- 
cellent juices, from, which the bees compofe 
their honey : they depofit it every where 
around, in hollow rocks and trees. My peo- 
ple w^ere extremely defirous of flopping fome 
time in this charming retreat, but I was afraid 
it would be to them what Capua was to 
Annibals foldiers. Without lofs of time, ^ 
therefore, I gave orders for continuing our 
journey, and haflened towards the river Wet- 
Els, which takes its name from the woods 
that grow on its banks. From the large 
brackifli river to this place, we had travelled 
only feven leagues. 
On the 9th, we crofl^ed feveral fmall rivu- 
lets, which, flowing down from the moun- 
tains, run into the fea through an hundred 
different channels. 
All the ftreams of thefe rivulets have the 
amber colour of Madeira wine, and I found 
that their tafl;e was ferruginous ; but I did 
not take time to examine whether this tafte 
and colour proceeded from their flowing 
through fome mine in their paflTage, ot from 
the roots and leaves of trees which they water, 
M 2 and 
