196 TRAVELS IN 
Agitatedby a fecretuneafmefs,Ifaw on the other 
fide of the river a difficult mountain, which 
it was neceflary for us to pafs. It was fo prodi- 
gioufly fteep, that I apprehended fome accident 
would befal me ; for an internal foreboding 
feemed ftrongly to announce it. I had indeed 
almoft loft, in one moment, the whole fruits of 
my labours, and of my incredible fatigues. I 
had taken the prudent precaution to condudt 
my waggons one after the other ; for, had I at- 
tempted to make them mount altogether, I 
fliould not have had oxen enough to draw 
them. I ordered twenty to be yoked to my 
majier waggon ; which, as I have already faid, 
carried all my artillery and my principal riches. 
My oxen fet out ; and, by climbing with great 
exertion, had almoft reached the fummit : but 
the chain which kept the firft eighteen to- 
gether breaking all of a fudden, the waggon 
rolled down with great precipitation to the bot- 
tom of the mountain, carrying with it the two 
oxen yoked to the pole. From the eminence 
on which we ftood, my conductors and I fol- 
lowed it with our eyes, almoft petrified with 
fear, and in the moft dreadful agitation. — 
Twenty times did we fee it ready to fall over 
the precipice that bordered the way : and this 
misfortune 
