AFRICA, 253 
we could not however remalil on the fum- 
mit ; and it was neceffary that we fhould 
defcend either on the one fide or the other. 
If we efcaped from Charybdis, we were ftill 
expofed to the danger of falling into Scylla. 
Always perfuaded that patience and precau- 
tion will overcome the greateft obftacles, I 
if 
could not believe that this enterprize would 
be more difficult for my caravan, than the paf- 
fage of the Alps had formerly been to nume- 
rous armies ; and I immediately prepared, as 
one may fay, for taking this dangerous leap. I 
took care to make my carriages defcend one 
after the other; and that they fhould be each 
^rawn by no more than tv^^o oxen. 1 caufed the 
firft to advance in good order, efcorted by all 
my people : but we were obliged to pafs over 
pointed rocks^ detached one from the other ; 
which, forming fo many high fteps, gave the 
waggon fuch jolts, as almoft broke it to pieces. 
This hov/ever was not what appeared to us 
to be moft dangerous ; for, by the means of 
ropes affixed to the wheels, we raifed them, up, 
or fuffered them to roll, as occafion roio-ht re- 
quire : it was the fmooth places, and the flip- 
pery declivities, that made us fhudder. At 
every moment I thought I faw the carnage and 
