AFRICA. 35 
at day-break ; and, for this purpofe, I imme* 
diately melted fome lead, to caft fuch balls as 
we wanted. But Klaas Bailer's fufee would 
not (hoot ftraight ; and^ to bring it into a proper 
ftate, he fpent a confiderable time in firing at 
a mark, according to the abfurd cuflom of the 
country. 
More than a pound of my powder was 
wafted in this manner ; yet this circumftance 
grieved me much lefs than the imprudence and 
obftinacy of the man, who could not be Igno- 
rant that the noife of this continued popping, 
augmented and repeated by the numerous 
echoes of the mountain, muft alarm the ele- 
phants, and induce them to retire. This was 
exadly the cafe. The next day, guided by 
the fhepherd, and accompanied by feveral of 
imy Hottentots, we proceeded with all poffible 
precaution to the heath : but this precaution 
was ufelefs; for the two animals had quitted the 
place, and we faw no marks of them, except 
their dung ,and their footfteps. However, I 
was ftili not w i'chout hopes of overtaking them, 
as their footfteps pointed out the means of 
purfuing them, if I were inclined fo to do; 
and this was the refolution I adopted, 
D 2 Wc 
