AFRICA. 
eamp, which was done at the end of every 
week, fcarcely ever failed to inform me, that 
fome of them were dead. I had refided at the 
river five weeks, hoping that we fliould expe- 
rience rain to reftore the verdure of the grafs ; 
and dm'ing the whole of that period it had 
rained but once, and then fo little as fcarcelj 
to lay the duft. 
In the mean time the feafon of extreme heat 
had begun, the month of November was at 
hand, and the earth every where burnt up left 
me no more hope. My Hottentots the mfelves 
did not conceal their dejedion : I, more ac- 
cuftomed than they to contemplate the future, 
and more interefted in the inevitable ills that 
awaited us, was perfectly difmayed. Sur- 
rounded with Infuperable obftacles, I faw the 
time approaching, when it would be as difficult 
for me to return to the Cape as to purfue my 
journey. In vain were my thoughts employed 
day and night in the invention of means to ex-^ 
tricate myfelf from my difficulty : but whether 
I remained, or whether I departed, I faw no- 
thing but death and deftrudion on every fide. 
My courage funk under thefe multiplied at- 
tacks. 
I had 
