A F R I C il43 
fcame fo near us, that one of my people favr 
him. This alarm, by difturbing our fleep^ 
enabled us to fet off earlier than ufual in the 
morning. 
Though I had two horfes, I walked on foot 
like the reft, for fear of fatiguing them j and I 
wanted to preferve their ftrength for any oc- 
cafion of hunting that might offer. Left to 
themfelves, at full liberty, they quietly foU 
lowed the caravan, without ever wandering 
from it, unlefs to feek prickly cucumbers, 
which were the only nourifhment that could 
be procured for them. 
During a part of the journey, this kind of 
food was every where to be feen in fufficient 
plenty : but, as we got farther from the river, 
it became more fcarce. At length it totally 
failed ; and the want of herbage was fo great, 
that I have feen them, what fcarcely any one 
will believe, yet th^ fadt is certainly true^^ 
greedily feize the dung that fell from our oxen, 
and fight over the excrementitious remains of 
the digefted grafs. 
On the fecond day we were obliged, as on 
the firft, to travel fix long leagues towards the 
"Vveftj and came to encamp near a fpring, 
R 2 which. 
