124 TRAVELS IN 
incides with our ardent wiihes. If the coun» 
try of the Lefler Niitiiquas, faid I, has been de* 
prived of rain, this fcarcity of water has per- 
haps been only local ; the diftrids fitiiated 
bey6nd it may not have experienced the 
fame drought, and may have had an abun- 
dant fupply of what has been hitherto want- 
ing in thofe through which I have travel- 
led. 
Reafoning thus from very uncertain proba- 
bilities, I employed my thoughts in devifmg 
means for traverfing a country, the drynefs of 
which, however terrifying, might not be an 
invincible difficulty ; and I hoped that it would 
be fucceeded by another better watered ^ the 
temperature and fertility of which would per- 
haps make amends for all my fatigue. 
When the widow found that I was deter- 
mined to depart, notwithftanding her advice 
and remonflrances, ihe prepared for me a fmall 
fupply of bifcuit, and defired her two fons to 
fhow me the only ford at which I could crofs 
the river without d^inger. We were obliged 
to go along the bank downwards to a confi-^ 
derable diftance to find this paflage, to which 
my guides conducted me with their oxen* 
and 
