88 
TRAVELS IN AFHICA. 
the ground. To him he gave two or three kicks, 
and would have fired his musket at him, had he 
not been prevented by some of his own people. 
On this occasion, we, with much difficulty, kept 
our temper, but as the fellow was beastly drunk, 
and we were aware of the serious consequences 
that might arise from any violence offered to 
one of the royal family, we overlooked the in- 
sult, and merely directed the men to stand 
to their arms, and take no notice of him. He 
did not like the appearance things bore at that 
moment, and went off as before. 
The people of the town, seeing us pay such 
little attention to the insult offered by their 
prince, no doubt thought they might follow his 
example with impunity, and therefore endea- 
voured to run away with every thing they could 
lay their hands on. This was too much. We 
could bear it no longer, and ordered the men to 
load and fall in, and, as it was nearly sunset, we 
had the whole of the baggage removed to some 
distance from the tree we had been sitting un- 
der, and placed triple sentinels. While the men 
were employed at this, the natives stole two 
horses, one ass, a bullock, and a goat. The 
horses, ass, and goat were recovered, but the bul- 
lock we never heard of. 
A strict watch during the night prevented 
the possibility of any attempt at theft, and on 
