TRAVELS IN 
With regard to the two oxen, they had pe^* 
riihed by the way for want of pafturage. Per** 
haps my Hottentots themfelves had occafioned 
their death by fatiguing them too much, and 
obliging them to carry a burthen of oil greater* 
than their ftrength would admit. I was in a 
manner convinced of the truth of this fufpi- 
cion : but, fituated as I was, I did not think 
it right to diQiearten them by reproaches. Who 
could have believed it ? From the moment the 
party had quitted the whale, they had neither 
eaten nor drunk; but the paffion for the oil, 
of which they had gone in purfuit, had rendered 
both hunger and fatigue fupportahle. They 
brought back about a hundred pounds weight 5 
and there was nothing, as I conceive, that they 
regretted in this cruel difafler but the not hav-p- 
ing been able to bring the whale itfelf. 
I was afraid fo much as to examine the ftate 
of my caravan. From day to day it had be- 
come more deplorable, and my foul was filled 
with anguifh and apprehenfion. It was not 
without effort that I could fpur myfelf on to 
the review. I could, however, no longer dif* 
penfe myfelf from afcertaining the number of 
o^eix that w^ere capable of being again put In 
harneft* 
