AFRICA. 209 
falllbly have died In the fpace of a few mi- 
nutes. 
Such Is the mconvenlence of a country newly 
inhabited. Man continuaUy fees his tranquil- 
lity interrupted, and his life endangered there 
by trbublefome infeds, ferocious beafts, and 
venomous reptiles. Coche, by way of caution, 
told me that the kooper-kapelwdc^ very common 
in the diftrid through which I was about to 
travel. After this intelligence, I formed a re« 
folution that I conceived to be highly necef- 
fary ; which was, not to pafs the night in my 
tent, but to fleep in my carriage, where I fhould 
have much lefs to apprehend from the formi* 
dable vifits of thefe alarming guefts. 
Whilft I was concluding a bargain with the 
farmer for a few fhcep, my carriages and their 
drivers croffed the Kruys, and I purfued my 
journey, keeping along the banks of the river; 
but I could not proceed far that day, as we had 
to travel over fand, and to crofs and re-crofs 
the Kruys fix tlmefe. Next day our fitua- 
tion was ftill worfe ; the fand was fo deep 
and fo loofe, that the wheels of my waggons 
funk almoft to the axle-tree ; and for each ve- 
hicle I was obliged to add four more oxen to 
Vol. I. P the 
