C 80 ^ ^ 
tiravel early, as the wild beafts coriftantiy 
rofe with the fun, and then ranged the dc- 
ferts in queft of their prey. As we were 
ail unarmed, a fingle lion^ leopa?^d or panther j 
could have deftroyed the moft of us. It' 
became, therefore, highly neceiTary we 
ihould not ftir until theie animals had fatis- 
fied their hunger, and were retired for the- 
day. 
Notwidiflanding- this cautious and-.necef- 
fary advice, and which was given with a- 
laudable earneftnefs for our prefer vation^ 
liill my people were fo defirous of getting 
<^n, that they grev/ uneafy ; but the guides 
could not be induced to quit the fires until 
about nine o'clock ; at which time Vv^e all 
proceeded, and in good fpirits.- 
Not more than three or four of our par- 
ty v/cre at this mqm.ent in poffeffion of fhoes. 
We had many hundred miles to travel over 
unknovvm countries, to afcend mountains 
of ftupendous elevation, penetrate woods, 
traverfe deferts, ford rivers ; and yet we 
were to combat ail thefe dilliculties bare fcoU 
edy. not having faved above four pair of 
flioes, and even thefe but in fad condition*. 
As my feet were naked, like moft of my 
vpeoples, one of them offered me an old^ 
pair o,t boots which he then wore ; but I 
refufed them. My habiliments w^ere a fliort 
jacket, a table-cloth, which I found on 
the fliore, wrapt round my loins ; a Ihawl* 
over it ; four fhirts which I i.vore at the 
fame time } a pair of trovv^fers and a hat. 
