AFRICA. 273 
harnefs. Alas! It was dreadfully dimlnlflied, 
and I was obliged to leave one of my vehicles 
behind me in the defert. It was the firft time 
fuch a misfortune had overtaken me ; but 
there was no remedy, and my Africans ad- 
vifed me to fubmit. But this was not all : I 
knew not what was to become of us, whither 
we w^ere to go, or to what point we were to 
direft our courfe. This was a new and more 
horrible fource of difquietude. I cannot de- 
fcribe it in a more ftriking manner than by 
adding, that I defpalred of being able to con- 
ceal thefe alarming circumftances from my 
companions, and therefore called them to- 
gether and laid the whole of the cafe before 
them. By one, I was advifed to return the 
way I had come, and to regain the Elephants- 
River : by another, to pufh on to that of Swarte 
JDooren^ which was in reality not a river, but a 
canal made by fome torrent ; but which, from 
the late rains that had fallen, might perhaps 
fupply us both with water and pafturage. The 
firft of thefe projeds was impradicable, and, 
fo far from offering a refoiirce, threatened de- 
ftrudtion as well to ourlelves as to our cattle, if 
we were rafli enough to undertake it. We 
Vol. L T ftould 
