310 ■ TRAVELS IN 
verfmg Africa, if it be poffible, admits only of 
hafty obfervations ; and that to attempt to be 
continually on the march, and continually 
colledting at the fame time, is a mad projed, 
for which armies of oxen, with waggons at 
their heels, Would be infufBcient. Neverthe- 
Icfs, all thefe ideas were combined in my head. 
Involved in this inextricable maze of per- 
plexities, the wifefi: ftep I could take v^as to 
finifh the preparatory excurfion I had begun, 
and to leave my ultimate refolution on the 
fubjed: to be determined by the circumftances 
that awaited me. Till this refolution was fixed, 
I purpofed to employ myfelf on my road in 
augmenting my colledions of natural hiftory, 
make as many friends as poffible in my way, 
and penetrate, if I could, towards the eaft, as 
far as that part of the centre of Africa which 
is fcarcely more than three hundred and forty 
leagues wide ; there to difcover feme more fa- 
vourable path than that in which I vv^as, and 
fecure myfelf, if fome unforefeen accident 
Ihould prevent my advancing farther, at leaft 
the refourcc of recommencing my journey 
under happier aufpices, and with hopes bet- 
ter founded. This was the mofi: rational flep 
5 I could 
