AFRICA. 77 
t took advantage of this ftay to examine the 
ftate of the wounded Hottentot, and fee whe- 
ther any afliftance could be given him. When 
my people had undreffed him, I found he had 
two ribs broken, the fradured parts of which 
formed even prominences under the Ikin. Thus 
melancholily circumftanced, what was to be 
done ? A chirurgical operation, dreffings ac- 
cording to the rules of art, and a proper regi- 
men were neceflary ; whereas I had neither 
Ikill nor medicaments, and was obliged, there- 
fore, to confign to nature this mangled beings 
or, in other words, to fuffering and death. He 
groaned horribly, and, wringing his hands, 
begged me to fhoot him through the head with 
a piftol, to end his torments. His fituation 
pierced me to the heart : but my pity was fooii 
converted into anger, when I learnt, that, 
while I Was abfent for a moment, he had drank 
half a bottle of brandy, which one of Pinar's 
men brought to him privately. 
How did I then curfe the unlucky fortune^ 
which had thrown me in the way of this de- 
fpicable hunter, whofe intemperance I deemed 
the certain caufe of death to Swanepoel, and 
whofe prefence might occafion ftill other dif- 
2 ^ orders 
