ido TRAVELS iU 
pcfmit mc to ftand upright. To this ad of 
hofpitality Cloete added that of offering us 
milk and bread, the only food at his difpofal, 
I fatisfied myfelf with the milk only, becaufe 
a cotifiderable portion of the duft of the mill-* 
ftone, with which the meal Was ground, having 
entered into the compofition of the breads I did 
not choofe to wear out my teeth with chewingir. 
In the evening our hoft feafted us w ith a haamel 
(a fat fheep) which he killed, and which was 
far more agreeal^le to my company than his 
milk. 
For myfelf, mindful of the objed of my 
journey, I converfed with my hoft, ftudied his 
charader, and endeavoured to guefs by what 
means I fhould beft prevail on him to fell me 
the oxen 1 wanted. The many precautions 
I took promifed at firft to be all ufelefs : 
fcarcely had I made my requeft, when he ftop- 
ped me ftiort with a peremptory refufal : 
charming confolation to a man who had braved 
the froft and fnow under a very different ex- 
pedation ! While I was feeling, however, the 
old man's pulfe, I had obferved his eyes fparkle 
when I mentioned the word brandy ; and I 
flattered myfelf, that this auxiliary of eloquence 
would 
