2 28 
TRAVELS IN 
Its brink. The paffage acrofs this rivulet^ to 
fpeak the truth, gave me great uneafmefs ; not 
indeed on account of the Koignas itfelf, which 
is very narrow, and, receiving little water 
from other ftreams, had not been much in- 
creafed by the rain ; but on account of the di& 
iiculty of approaching it, occafioned by the 
fteepnefs and height of its banks. The foil, 
befides, confifted of glutinous earth, which the 
rains had rendered fo flippery, that the defcent 
was extremely dangerous for my carriages. 
Thus did drought and rain both confpire to de- 
feat my intentions ; and every thing, in Ihort, 
feemed in combination to prefent at every ftep 
new obftacles to my progrefs. 
Klaas, wiiliing to contribute by his care to. 
the happy fuccefs of our paffage, took upon 
him to dired the firft waggon, and put him- 
felf at the head of the oxen : but his foot hav- 
ing flipped in defcending, he fell down ; and 
before he had time to rife he was not only trod 
upon by the firft pair of oxen, but the other 
four alfo pafitd over his body. Luckily I had 
obferved h:m fall, and my cries brought to his 
aid his companions, who, favouring by their 
refiftance the efforts made by the driver to 
keep 
