AFRICA. 197 
misfortune would have infallibly taken place, 
had it not been for the fuperior ftrength of the 
two oxen attached to the pole, which nothing 
could overcome. This accident, had it hap- 
pened, muft have entirely fufpended my jour- 
ney. My carriage, and my moft valuable 
efFed:s, would have been daflied to pieces ; 
my powder, my fhot, and my arms, would 
have been fcattered : and I fhould have been 
entirely ruined without the leaft refource. The 
waggon was, however, flopped by a rock on 
the banks of the torrent. We defcended with 
fliouts of joy ; and having collefted my effeds, 
and put every thing in its proper place, we 
again yoked the oxen to this fatal carriage ; 
which, without danger regained in an hour 
what it had loft in ten minutes. The reft, 
being not quite fo heavy, arrived in perfed 
fafety. I had ordered the traces to be doubled, 
and four men to efcort the wheels, all ready 
to put their hands to the fpokes on the leaft 
jolt. The road however was fb fteep, that this 
would not have prevented a fall ; but it would 
have diminifhed the rapidity of it, and given 
us time to direct the carriage in fuch a man- 
ner, as beft to avoid the dreadful precipice. 
Fear is a magnifying glafs which always 
0 3 enlarges 
