332f TRAVELS LN 
I faw them fee off: while I, on my part, 
alfo refumed my journey, travelling north by 
€aft. 
Before the chief left me, he caufed a fat 
iheep to be brought, v^hich in his frigid man- 
ner he requefted me to accept, affuring me that 
it was a free gift, I did not refufe it ; though 
it was an ufelefs prefent to me, and though I 
was convinced, that his liberality was not fo 
difmterefled as he pretended. Accordingly, 
he Tefufed nothing that I offered him In re- 
turn. 
At fome diftance from the horde, I found a 
refervoir of faline water, in which were many 
lumps of fait cryftallized by the heat. Thefe 
I carefully collefted, as an addition which na- 
ture had made to my ftore. 
Two different courfes here offered them- 
felves to me, and I was perplexed which to 
choofe. Due weft was a dry plain, covered 
with mimofas and ebony trees, and bounded by 
a chain of mountains at the diftance of five or 
fix leagues. Toward the eaft alfo was a plain, 
more open, it is true ; but at a diftance I per-» 
ceived fome large trees, which appeared to 
ikirt a river* The natives affured me it was 
Lion^ 
