AFRICA. 213 
being, it continued its flight to a great diftance, 
and I foon loft fight of it. 
From the top of the rock I had made a fig- 
nal to rny people to advance towards me. 
When they arrived, I ordered them to fill my 
jars^ I had feveral in my waggons ; and I cer- 
tainly, upon leaving Lange Valey, would not 
have fufFered them to be empty, had it been 
pofllble for me to forefee the drought that 
^iwaited us. The jars being filled, I direded 
my people to water my horfes and a fev/ of the 
fm-dler animals belonging to my caravan. 
Thefe repeated draughts exhaufted my ciftern, 
lb that nothing was left for my poor oxen : 
but I knew that ruminating animals can en- 
dure both hunger and thirft for a confiderable 
period ; and I befides flattered myfelf that, be- 
fore the day was clofed, I fliould meet with 
anpther fortunate incident, fimilar to that 
which 1 had juft <experienced. My hopes, how- 
ever, were vain ; during the whole day we 
had nothing but a dry and burning defert to 
traverfe. After dinner tv/o of my oxen, ex- 
haufted by thirft arid fatigue, dropped down, 
atid I was under the neceffity of leaving them 
behind — fad and melancholy prefage of the 
P 3 misfortunes 
