AFRICA. 249 
had been obliged during our paffage to fallen 
my artillery to my knees ; it had accordingly 
been wetted 5 and I haftened to repair the 
mifchief by wiping and drying it. Twenty 
times had I been drenched myfelf by the waves ; 
yet the water had fortunately neither penetrated 
my powder- flafks, nor injured my watch. 
What reafon had I to rejoice that I had fo far 
perfevered as not to abandon the raft ! The lofs 
of my fire-arms and my tent would have been 
irreparable ; and not only would it have de- 
feated the obje£l for which I had croffed the 
river, but have greatly incommoded me in my 
general expedition. 
At the time, however, other thoughts occu- 
pied my mind. I congratulated myfelf folely 
on the danger we had efcaped; of the greatnefs of 
which I had no conception, till I obferved from 
our landing-place the diftance we had pafTed. 
Then it was that I refleded vv^ith ferioufnefs on 
the extravagance of my folly, and the raftnefs 
of the enterprife. Upon viewing the pafiagej 
I fhuddercd with terror. It was not a river 
that we had crolfed, but a vaft inundation, of 
which the eye could fcarcely reach the extent. 
As I had no InfLruments to meafure It, it is 
9 impoffible 
