A F Pv I C A. 149 
out my being able, from my ignorance of me- 
dicine, to relieve his fuiTerings. 
On the other hand, I had to fear that the 
dangers and fatigue of the journey would be 
too great for the courage of my Efculapius. 
And what was I to have done, fliould that be 
the cafe ? I mull have returned the fame way 
I came, till I arrived at the colony, in order to 
leave him in a place of iafety ; for I certainly 
ihould not have abandoned him to himfelf ia 
the mid ft of the deferts. 
In this perplexity, I was ftruck with an idea 
that appeared to remedy the inconvenience, 
and preferve to each his perfonal independence. 
This was, to have a feparate carriage and efta- 
blifhment for him, in order that, £hould he be 
difpofed to return, he might do fo freely, with- 
out interfering with or impeding my progrefs. 
An arrangement like this would have placed 
us both equally at our eafe. I propofed it to 
him, adding, that my con&nt to his accompany- 
ing me would entirely depend upon it: but it 
was not accepted, and I difmifTed it from my 
thoughts. 
Among my acquaintance at the Cape, there 
were fome who wpiild fain have ^ifluaded me 
L 3 from 
