AFRICA. 2ij 
my hole, and went to pafs a few hours at my 
camp ; after which I returned, and interred 
myfelf as before. This expedient I continued 
for two days fucceffively, with much patience. 
During that interval, the fun had dried the 
earth, and made it all of one colour. About 
the middle of the third, I obferved the female 
foaring above the tree, upon which fhe foon 
alighted, with a very large fifh in her talons. 
I inftantly difcharged my piece ; and had the 
pleafure of feeing her fall, flapping her wings: 
but before I could difengage myfelf from 
my mat, and the earth which covered mc, fhe 
fo far recovered her flrength as to fly; and, 
brufhing the furface of the river, reached the 
other fide, where fhe expired. 
The joy which I felt on finding myfelf in 
poflfeflGion of this bird was fo great, that, with- 
out obferving that the tide was up, I threw 
myfelf into the water, with my fufee on my 
flioulder; and I was not fenfible of my im- 
prudence, till in the middle of the river I 
found myfelf up to the chin. To add to my 
misfortune, 1 was alone, and entirely unac- 
quainted with fwimming. Had I attempted 
to return, the rapidity of the current would 
have undoubtedly thrown me down. With- 
P 4 out 
