AFRICA. 353 
a political view of procuring more fafety to 
my caravan. The ordinary prize was a ra- 
tion of tobacco 5 a bottle fufpended from a rock 
was the mark, and the conditions Were to 
break it at the diftance of two hundred and 
fifty paces. One named Pit gained the prize 
that day at the fifty-fourth {hot ; and he very 
gencroufly fliared it with all the reft who had 
contended. The balls were not all loft j they 
were almoft all found at the bottom of the 
rock, but it was neceflary to have them all caft 
again. 
As the fetting of the fun feemed to an- 
nounce fine weather the next morning, I 
formed a defign of hunting hippopotami in 
proper form. I fent feveral men to try what 
difcoveries they could make on the banks of 
the river : we cleaned all our fire-arms, and we 
caft feveral balls of a large fize, into which I 
put, according to the African cuftom, an eighth 
part of lin. By thefe means balls are capable 
of making a greater refiftance, and they pene- 
trate better, becaufe they do not become flat 
when they meet with bones. Their elFedl 
would be more certain were it pofllble to em- 
ploy pure tin only; but being then much 
lighter, they would not fly fo far, nor hit fo 
Vol. I. A a exafitly. 
