AFRICA. 133 
were all that would be oeceflary for mc to re- 
turn to the Cape by the ordinary route ; but I 
contented myfelf with fending back the two 
negroes, that had been lent me, loaded with 
the various objecls I had coileded, and returned 
myfelf by the margin of the fea-fhore, follow- 
ing the windings of the bays and creeks, be- 
ginning at the point of the nautili, and ending 
on the fide at th€ weft. 
This journey, not withflan ding its (hort du- 
ration, was attended with iatigue^ which I had 
not iorefeen. At every ftep, fome obftacle or 
other was fure to intervene. Here a projeding 
rock preferit€d itfelf, and there I was obliged to 
clamber a precipice with my Hottentot, affift- 
ing each other in turns, and continually ex- 
pofmg ourfeives to the v'lik of flipping, and of 
being thereby precipitated into the abyfs below. 
At one time, a rapid declivity oppofed our de- 
fcent, and we had no refource but that of com- 
mitting ourfeives to its mercy, by gliding dowa 
on our backs, in danger of being mangled and 
torn by our fall. At another, after much toil 
and labour, I found myfelf flopped by fome 
creek or piece of Vv^ater, which, forcing itfelf 
between two high rocks, blocked up my paf- 
K 3 fage, 
