Africa, 177 
and moiftening its feathers ; and, as I inftantly 
laid hold of it, no time was left for it to fpoil 
its plumage by fluttering. The water, impelled 
by the powder, went diredly to the mark; but 
the piece of tallow, being lighter than thewater, 
did not reach fo far. In my firft attempts it 
often happened, that having fometimes fired 
too near, or put too much powder, or too thick 
a piece of candle, I found the latter entire in 
the anlm^al's belly ; but after a fliort appren- 
ticefhip I made no more miftakes, and never 
miffed my aim. I have often let my fufee re- 
main charged in this manner from morning 
till night ; yet the powder was never damaged, 
nor did the piece go off lefs readily. It may 
be eafily gueffed that I never fired horizon- 
tally in this manner. 
One day, after my return to Europe, be- 
ing at the houfe of a friend, I happened to 
mention before fome flrangers this method 
which I have defcribed. One of them, who 
durfl; not flatly contradiO: me, or openly avow 
his incredulity, endeavoured to prove to the 
reft, by very ^ clear arguments, that my affer- 
tion was at leaft exaggerated. Whilfl they 
were difputing, I retired without being per- 
VoL. I. N ceived 
