AFRICA. 
neither water nor paftiirage would be found. 
He informed me alfo, that beyond the river I 
fliould meet with the fame inconveniences, 
till I arrived at the country of the Nimiquas ; 
and added, that though it was now the rainy 
feafon, the rain had univerfally failed ; that a 
dreadful drought was every where experi- 
enced ; and that never in the remembrance 
of man had this part of Africa fuffered fuch 
diftrefs. 
This Intelligence troubled and difquieted my 
mind. I forefaw nothing but misfortunes to 
my enterprife ; and we even already began 
to experience them. Six weeks only had 
elapfed fince I quitted the Cape, yet my oxen 
were as much fatigued as they had been during 
my firft journey after a march of fix months. 
To give them time to reft themfelves and re- 
cover their ftrength, I remained at Heere- 
logement feven whole days, during which our 
table occafioned fuch a confumption of dajfen 
or damans, that even my Hottentots began to 
loathe them. At length, hovv^ever, on the 
fourth of July, the war we had declared againft 
thefe poor animals ceafed, and I quitted the 
' place, after having left my name and the date 
9 
