ii8 
TRAVELS IN AFRICA. 
1779; provlfion for our Hottentots. We ftill continued our courfe 
Augult. ^ 
^ — — ' to the eaftward, colleding different plants. 
In the afternoon we met Jacobus Van Renan, who had been 
■about fix miles to the eaftward, and had only feen the prints 
of three Hippopotami, which feemed to be frefh, and he 
believed they were gone to the miouth of the river. We in- 
formed him of that which we had feen, and he fired feveral 
fhots at the animal, but withovit being able to give him a mor- 
tal wound. 
In the evening, Sebaftian Van Renan, and Mr. Pinar, re- 
turned to the waggon, and acquainted us that there were a 
number of Lions about twelve miles to the eaftward, attracted 
by a dead Elephant v/hich had been idiot by Mr. Pinar during 
the time he was abfent from the waggons. 
We continued our excurfion to the eaftward, through a 
Hlly country, and the moft barren I ever faw. The hills were 
naked and decayed, with hardly a plant to be feen upon them ; 
in the lower parts there were here and there a little grafs : 
from thefe appearances we judged that it would be in vain to 
think of proceeding farther. We agreed, therefore, to remain 
a few days, and if poftible, to fhoot fome game for provifion 
on our way through the dry country we had to pafs. Mr. 
Pinar, however, refolved to dired his courfe to the eaftward, 
and took with him five Hottentots, each of whom was pro- 
vided with a gun. While we remained here, I found a plant 
which the Plottentots ufe to procure fire by fri6:ion. I foujid 
