AFRICA, 
moment. This arfenal incommoded me con- 
fiderably at firft ; but I never quitted it, both 
on account of my own fafety, and becaufe by 
this precaution I feemed to increafe the con- 
fidence of my people. My arms, doubtlefs, 
appeared to them to correfpond with my refo- 
lutions ; and, full of this idea, each purfued 
his way with the utmoft compofure, leaving 
to me the care of defending them. 
This caravan on its march exhibited a fm- 
gular and amufmg fpeftacle — I may even fay 
grand. The turns which it was obliged to 
make in following the windings of the bufhes 
and rocks, continually gave it new forms ; and 
thefe points of view varied every inftant. 
Sometimes it entirely difappeared from my 
fight ; and all of a fudden, from the fummit 
of a fmall eminence, I would again difcover 
at a diftance my van-guard flowly advancing 
towards a mountain ; while the main body, 
who without confufion, and in fine order, 
were following the traces of thofe who had 
preceded them, was almoft below me. The 
women fuckled their children, and gave them 
food and drink feated on their oxen by them; 
fome wept, others fung or laughed ; and the 
men, fmoking a foclal pipe, converfed together, 
havine 
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