202 TRAVELS IN 
faid to flow; and their naked and fcorclied 
afped afforded little promife of the great change 
With which I had fed my hopes. 
It was not long, however, before I heard 
the noife of flowing water towards the north- 
weft. This found, which announced our fafety, 
made my heart leap for joy, and my people in- 
voluntarily uttered a fl:iout of gladnefs. A fe- 
cond time our pains were on the point of being 
ended, and I fhould at length fee a river ! For, 
fmce we quitted that of the Elephants, 1 had 
found nothing but the beds of periodical 
ftreams, either completely dry, or containing 
a few puddles of ftagnant muddy water. The 
more fpeedily to enjoy fuch an agreeable fight, 
I mounted on horfeback with Klaas, and rode 
towards the place to which the noiie direded 
me. All thofe of my people who were not 
employed about the waggons began to run 
with mc ; and my ape, my dogs, and indeed 
every one of my animals that was at liberty, 
fet off at the fame time. We puflied on helter- 
{kelter, contending who fliould firft reach the 
fpot. However, I fufFered my animals to 
precede me a few paces, certain that their 
fmeil and their inftihd would lead me by the 
fliorteil 
