AFRICA. 97 
horfes, except at Intervals, were of no ufe to 
us, and we were obliged to clamber up in the 
beft manner we could. This fteep afcent 
conducted us, after a fatiguing march, to a 
valley of fome depth, where was the ftream 
of a river, which my guide aflured me was the 
Green-River, and that it had its fource In the 
mountains before us. Acquainted as he feemed 
to be with the country, the circumftance not- 
withftanding ftruck me as improbable ; be- 
caufe, having coafted the banks of the Green- 
River for feveral hours together, I had found 
not a drop of water running in its bed, while 
that in queftion was flowing with a full ftream* 
He was, however, right in his affertion. The 
river had fands and a parched foil to crofs, 
which dried up its current, and prevented it 
from reaching the plain, unlefs when Its waters 
were extraordinarily abundant. 
The dcfign of my guide in bringing me to 
this valley was to introduce me to a planter 
who had a fettlement there, that is to fay, a 
wretched hut that ferved him as a refidence. 
I bought of him fix oxen, v^^hich were to be 
delivered to me on my return. Farther on in thq 
mountains, I found much fucli another habl- 
Vol. II. H tation, 
