AFRICA. 179 
put therefore feveral queftions to the young 
inan, begging him to defcribe the birds id 
queftion ; and he did it in a manner fo clear 
and fo natural, that I readily diftinguifhed in 
the defcription the anhinga, an uncommon 
bird which I had not yet feen in Africa. 
This difcovery attacked me, fo to fpeak, on 
my weakeft fide. From that itioment I was 
hot at Hberty to refufe ; and I granted, to my 
ftiame be it fpoken, to two birds, which I was 
not yet fure of getting, what I had refufed to 
the folicitations of friendfhip. 
Next morning I reminded my youiig mall 
of his promife, and he conduded me towards 
a tree that was commonly frequented by thefe 
birds. I fooii found that I had not been de- 
ceived in my conjeftures ; I adiiially perceived 
two anhingas, but of a particular fpecies, 
different from the two peculiar to America, and 
from that of Senegal, defcribed by Buffon. The 
young man, who had for a long time obferved 
their habits, told me that it would be neceflary 
for me to retire, if I ^vifhed to take a fure ahd 
advantageous aim. He cotiduded me, there- 
fore, to a diftance of about two or three hun- 
dred paces from the tree 5 made me conceal 
N 2 my- 
