AFRICA. 225 
ho reafon to apprehend that thefe would be 
carried off by the BoQimen ; as the horde was 
fufficiently numerous to be fecure from the at- 
tacks of thefe robbers. Befides, I ordered the 
herd to be driven thither by four of my peo- 
ple, well armed, who were to guard it night and 
day ; and, if any thing happened, I could eafily 
repair to their alTiftance, as the pafture was not 
more than four leagues from my camp. 
All my hopes centred in the recovery of my 
oxen by this frefli grafs. Without this, I fliould , 
be flopped again, and it would be impoffible 
for me to continue my journey. I was not in 
the leaft perplexed about the food of my goats, 
fheep, and horfes. Every where along the fhore, 
as well as in the woods, they found abundance 
of thofe prickly cucumbers of which they were 
fo fondi 
For our parts, befide the plentiful means of 
fubfiftence afforded by fifhing and hunting, we 
had a refource in the hippopotami, which were 
very numerous in the river, and, from a parti- 
cular circumflance, very eafy to be (hot at tne 
place where we were encamped. 
In fome places the water had fo little depth 
as to form flioals. At other places it was 
Vol. IL deeper. 
