tS4r TRAVELS IN 
the country. He, on his part, did not let flip 
the opportunity of fpeaking to me of his 
troubles. He was not far from the liver^ 
■where hippopotami abounded ; and he and his 
companions would have been very glad to pro- 
cure fome occafionally for food : but, though 
they had digged holes, and fet traps for them, 
along the fhore, they had never been able to 
catch more than three during the tvfo years 
they had dwelt there. The creatures, hefaid, were 
too cunning for them ; though he had no doubt 
but I, with my fufees, of the effefts of which 
lie had heard, might have as many as I pleafed. 
Such an obfervation Vv^as an indired: requeft 
for me to render the horde a fervice. It gave 
me an opportunity of making myfelf friends ; 
and, had not the diftrefs of my fituation im- 
pofed this on me as a matter of necefllty, I 
would have done it from humanity to ferve 
thefe poor favages. 
I refolved, therefore, to fet off the next day 
In the afternoon, fpend the night near the rivefj 
and begin the chace the following morning at 
the peep of dawn. I took with me all my 
hunters. A party of the horde followed, with 
fome pack- oxen for carrying the fruits of 
our 
