INTERIOR OF AFRICA. 243 
they insisted that I should cast them both off ; and at last, to 
make sure work, they stripped me quite naked. Even my half 
boots (though the sole of one of them was tied on to my foot 
with a broken bridle-rein), were minutely inspected. "Whilst 
they were examining the plunder, I begged them, with great 
earnestness, to return my pocket compass; but when I pointed 
it out to them, as it was lying on the ground, one of the ban- 
ditti, thinking I was about to take it up, cocked his musket 
and swore that he would lay me dead upon the spot, if I pre- 
sumed to put my hand upon it. After this, some of them went 
away with my horse, and the remainder stood considering 
whether they should leave me quite naked, or allow me some- 
thing to shelter me from the sun. Humanity at last prevailed : 
they returned me the worst of the two shirts, and a pair of 
trowsers; and, as they went away, one of them threw back 
my hat, in the crown of which I kept my memorandums ; 
and this was probably the reason they did not wish to keep 
it. After they were gone, I sat for some time, looking around 
me with amazement and terror. Which ever way I turned, 
nothing appeared but danger and difficulty. I saw myself in the 
midst of a vast Vv'ilderness, in the depth of the rainy season ; 
naked and alone; surrounded by savage animals, and men still 
more savage. I was five hundred miles from the nearest Euro- 
' pean settlement. All these circumstances crowded at once on 
my recollection ; and I confess that my spirits began to fail me. 
I considered my fate as certain, and that I had no alternative, 
but to lie down and perish. The influence of religion, however, 
aided and supported me. I reflected that no human prudence 
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