172^ TRAVELS IN 
had really agitated me- with tranfports dIfHcult 
to be defcribed. To fatiate my anger, I am 
fenfible that nothing lefs would have been 
fufficient at that moment than to purfue a lion 
or a tiger. That a paltry bird, which I had 
brought down after fo many difficulties, and fo 
much defire for it, fhould efcape and thus va- 
nifh from my fight, was truly diftreffing. Un- 
able to contain my paffion, I began to ftamp, 
and to beat the ground with my fufee ; but the 
earth finking fuddenly below me, I difappear- 
ed alfo, and fell with my arms into a pit twelve 
feet in depth. My aftonifhment, and the 
hurt I received by my fall, foon made me for- 
get my anger ; and I found myfelf at the bot- 
tom of one of thofe covered fnares which the 
Hottentots employ to catch ferocious animals, 
particularly elephants. When I recovered 
from my furprize, I began to confider how I 
Should extricate myfelf from this embarraff- 
ment, extremely happy that I had not been 
impaled on the fharp-pointed {lake placed in 
the bottom of the pit, and ftill happier that I 
found in it no company. I was however 
apprehenfive that fome might arrive every mo- 
ment 5 efpecially if I fliould be obliged to re- 
■ mala 
