282 
TRAVELS IN 
merited with the moft devouring thh-ft ; and 
to add to this diftrefs, not even the fmalleft 
hope prefented itfelf of being able to extri- 
cate myfelf from my difficulties. Meanwhile, 
to leave no refource untried, I employed all 
my people, during the remaining part of the 
day, in fearching every where in the neigh-t 
bourhood, each in a different quarter, for holes 
and cavities which might have been filled with 
rain ; and I went myfelf upon the fame pur- 
fuit with my ape and my dogs : but we all re- 
turned, Hottentots and their mafter, one after 
another, dejeded to the camp, with the fame 
tidings upon our lips, " I have found no^ 
thing — dreadful tidings, that configned U8 
over to ftill farther fufferings and mifery ! 
What a crowd of black and ill-omened ideas 
now rufhed upon my mind ! At fight of the 
deplorable fituation of my unfortunate cattle, 
a deadly terror crept through my veins. The 
{late of my Hottentots, from whom I had en- 
deavoured to conceal a part of our evils, did 
not fail alfo to add to my torments ; and I 
curfed a thoufand times the blind confidence 
which had induced me to advance. 
A defperate fituation leads to the adoption 
of 
