viji 
ADDENDA. 
over the wild chain of pastoral hills which divide the 
Tweed from the Yarrow. Park talked much of his new 
African expedition, and mentioned his determination of 
going straight from Edinburgh, without returning to 
take leave of his family. They were then on the top of 
William-hope ridge, a lofty hill which overlooks the 
course of the Yarrow; and the autumnal mist which 
floated heavily and slowly down the valley beneath them, 
presented to Mr. Scott's imagination a striking emblem of 
the troubled and uncertain prospect which Park's under- 
taking afforded. Mr.* Scott pressed upon his friend the 
danger likely to result from his being accompanied with 
a military force ; which he then thought the most unsafe 
mode of travelling in Africa ; the number of troops pro- 
posed to be employed appearing to be inadequate for con- 
quest, or even for serious defence, yet large enough to excite 
suspicion. Park answered these objections, by describing 
the manner in which Africa was subdivided among petty 
sovereigns, who were not likely to form any regular com- 
bination for cutting him off, and whose boundaries were 
soon traversed. He spoke also of the long journies com- 
mon in those countries, and of the habit of seeing cofles 
or caravans, of all nations, pass through their territories, 
on paying a small duty ; from which he inferred, that the 
march of a small party, such as that which was to be 
placed under his command, would excite no serious ap- 
prehension. This interesting conversation occupied the 
two friends till they had passed the hills, and came to a 
road where it had been agreed they should separate. A 
small ditch divided the moor from the road ; and, iw 
