84 
NARRATIVE CONTINUED. 
We did not take our departure on the 
morning of the 23d until the sun was well 
up. Our guides were intelligent, and gave 
us to understand that we must on no ac- 
count travel early, as the wild beasts con- 
stantly rose with the sun, and then ranged 
the deserts in quest of their prey. As we 
were all unarmed, a single lion, leopard, or 
panther, could have destroyed the most of 
us. It became, therefore, highly necessary 
we should not stir until these animals had 
satisfied their hunger, and were retired for 
the day. 
Notwithstanding this cautious and ne- 
cessary advice, and which v/as given with 
a laudable earnestness for our preservation, 
still my people were so desirous of getting 
on, that they grew uneasy ; but the guides 
could not be induced to quit the fires until 
about nine o'clock ; at which time we all 
proceeded, and in good spirits. 
Not more than three or four of our 
party were at this moment in possession 
of shoes. We had many hundred miles 
