AFRICA. 219 
would not have been able to fecure the ante- 
4ope ; for, though they were more numerous 
than the wild dogs, the latter were ftronger, 
fiercer, and more courageous. I fhall after- 
wards have occafion to fpeak of them, and to 
reftify a great many errors refpedting them, 
which have been propagated and confirmed 
by men of the greateft talents. But how can 
people fpeak with any certainty of objeds 
which they have never feen themfelves, efpe- 
cially when they copy the relations of others 
who know them as little ? 
Until the 15th of June I formed feveral en- 
campments in the neighbourhood of the Bay 
in different places. Refolved to continue my 
journey into the country, between the chain 
of mountains arid the fea, I went to recon- 
noitre the way : I endeavoured, but without 
fuccefs, to find a place where my carriages 
could eafily pafs ; for the forefts were fo ex- 
tenfive, and fo thick, that there was no poffi- 
bility of penetrating through them. My Hot- 
tentots, on their part, were not more fortu- 
nate in their refearches than I : we could 
abfolutely difcover no outlet. I determined 
therefore to crofs the chain of mountains; but 
to accomplifh this, it was ftill neceffary that I 
fhould 
