SOUTHERN AFRICA. 185 
turned a little out of the way towards the quarter from whence 
the fmoke proceeded ; but being to leeward of it, and the wind 
encreafing, tbe waggons were in the midft of the fire before we 
perceived it ; and the fmoke was fo thick and acrid, that it was 
impolTible to fee the length of the team. The oxen, being 
burnt in the feet, became unmanageable and galloped off in 
great confufion, the dogs howled, and there was a general up- 
roar. The fmoke was fuffocating; the flames blazed up on. 
each fide of the waggons, which, to thofe efpecially that con- 
tained a quantity of gunpowder, was very alarming. The 
oxen, however, by fagacity, or by chance, had fet their heads 
againft the wind and foon galloped through it. The flames 
ran in all diredions among the long dry grafs and heathy 
plants with incredible celerity. The face of the country for 
feveral miles was a fheet of fire, and the air was obfcured with 
a cloud of fmoke. We had yet a confiderable extent of coun- 
try to pafs among black aflies, beyond which we prefently 
reached the mouth of the Great Fifh river, where v/e pitched 
our tents for the night. 
Like all the African rivers that difcharge themfelves into the 
fea on the eaflern coaft, the mouth of the Great Fifn river was 
nearly fanded up. The quantity, however, of water brought 
down by it keeps open a conftant channel, v/hich, at the lowed 
€bb, feemed to be deep enough in every part for the admiflion 
of boats. Within the bar of fand it was from three to four 
hundred yards in width, and appeared to be very deep. The 
Fortuguefe, in their early voyages, diicbvered this river, and 
gave to it the name of Rio Infante'. Thinking that it might 
B B admit 
