i8o TRAVELS IN 
ful gardens were changed into a difrnal arid 
inhofpitable defart. In this diftrefs, colleding 
all my forces, I entreated my friends to fearch, 
at leaft, for our loft and difperfed oxen ; and to 
refolve to crofs one of the torrents, whatever 
might be the confequence. By the ftrangeft 
caprice of fortune, the fatal event which threat- 
ened us with fudden deftruftion, was in part 
the occafion of our fafety. One of my Hot- 
tentots, in fearching for a paffage, perceived 
in the middle of the water a buffalo, which 
had probably been drowned the evening be- 
fore, for it was ftili very frefh : on this dif- 
covery he came, with fhouts of joy, to convey 
us the agreeable intelligence ; and nothing in- 
deed could have arrived more feafonably. We 
drew the animal to the fhore, not without 
confiderable danger; cut it to pieces on the 
fpot ; and, having carried away the foundeft 
parts, left the reft to my dogs, which, having 
fafted a long time, found great relief in this 
refrefliment. We faw them return from their 
repaft with their bellies fo full that they could 
fcarcely walk. I cannot help mentioning 
another circumftance, as it will tend to con- 
vey a ftill better idea of the dreadful fituation 
to 
