AFRICA. aoi 
hue. However this might be, I found coppery 
pyrites and green-coloured cryftals, in the clefts 
of the rocks and maffes of ftone. 
The ground on which we walked was co- 
vered with grafs ; and 1 hoped this grafs, though 
dry, would fupply food for my oxen, fince 
thofe of the country ate it readily in that ftate; 
but, notwithftanding the hunger they had long 
fuffered, they refufed it. From its extreme 
drynefs, indeed, its edges were rendered fo cut- 
ting, that fuch of my cattle as .attempted to eat 
it had their lips and tongues quickly covered 
with blood. 
I panted with all the impatience that fprlngs 
from diftrefs, for the moment when I fhoultf 
arrive at the Great River ; that river, which I 
had been told was never dry, and the banks of 
which had been depicted to me as fo pleafant 
and fertile 1 Every inftant 1 dreaded to fee our 
teams drop down with fatigue before they 
reached it, as the former had done. My eyes 
were on the ftretch forwards, looking for thofe 
numerous trees which I had been told covered 
its borders. No trees yet appeared ; nor could 
I difcern any thing before us but the vaft 
mountains, at the feet of which the river was 
faid 
