424 
SLEEPING IN THE OPEN AIR. 
2, 3 Nov. 
In this spot, when evening came on, I prepared, at the distance 
of a score yards from where Speelman and Phihp had their fire, a 
place on the slope of the grassy bank, where I might conveniently 
pass the night. The weather was delightfully serene, and without 
the least dew. A blazing fire of dry acacia wood, enabled me to 
write my journal and arrange the memoranda of the day. As 
we had brought neither gridiron nor plates, a forked stick, about two 
feet long, supplied the place of both. On this fork a steak of our 
hippopotamus was stuck ; while the lower end of it being pointed, 
was thrust into the ground close to the fire. As soon as the meat 
was broiled, at what I might call my kitchen fire, Philip brought it 
to where I was sitting, and stuck it before me in the ground. The 
luxuries and accommodations of the dining-room, were here reduced 
to their simplest forms ; the grassy bank, the forked stick, and a small 
pocket-knife, supplied the place of all the costly furniture of a palace. 
And I might, without inconvenience, have imitated Diogenes, by 
throwing away my cup, although merely an ostrich-egg shell ; but 
he, in return, would have abandoned his tub, as utterly unnecessary, 
could he have beheld me as I lay on the open bank asleep, housed 
only by the starry sky. 
Our Bushmen friends, wrapped in their karosses, lay down also, 
within a few yards of us, and took their rest ; a proof of the really 
friendly terms we were upon. For it was not possible to have given 
a stronger assurance of our confidence in each other's good inten- 
tions, than that of lying thus exposed and unprotected, in each 
other's power, perfectly unsuspicious of treachery, and fearless of 
harm. I know not whether this degree of confidence ought to be 
considered as prudent in a solitary European, travelling over the 
wilds of Africa ; nor would I recommend it to be adopted by others, 
without the most careful circumspection : but I am certain that, in 
several instances, I am indebted to it for my safety ; in niany, for a 
kind treatment ; and, in general, for a more friendly reception than, 
it seems, has hitherto been experienced by European travellers. 
3rd. The two boys amused themselves in watching for fish, stand- 
ing at the water's edge as motionless as herons. After patiently waiting 
