AFRICA. 213 
fufficient for our wants. The river during 
its inundations had brought down with it va- 
rious trees of different forts and fizes. Two 
hundred paces from us was a vafl mirnofa, 
which had flopped a great number of others ; 
and they were fo heaped up as to form a natu- 
ral pile of confiderable magnitude. 
My people, without taking the trouble to 
colled: what was necelTary, kindled this pile ; 
and in an inftant we had a huge bonlire, 
which not only continued the whole night, but 
even fome time in the morning of the next 
day. The place was enlightened, to a confi- 
derable diftance, as much as if it had been broad 
day. But the conflagration was fo violent, 
and the flames in their afcent carried up with 
them fuch a number of fparks and burning 
coals, that niy camp, though two hiindred 
paces off, was not out of the reach of this fiery 
fhower ; and it was even neceifary to take fome 
precautions to fecure my powder. All the 
trees round were burnt as they flood ; and 
fuch as were more than fifty paces diftant had 
their leaves fcorched. 
The fire kept oft the lions, it is true ; but it 
drove away the birds alfo; and in the morning 
P 3 we 
