44 
TRAVELS IN AFRICA, 
1778. after the waggon. We travelled till nine, through a very wild 
--y-w countryj inhabited only by beafts, without difcovering the ob- 
je£l of our fearch. I then afcended the hills, in hopes of 
difcerning a fire on fome of the adjacent heights ; which is 
the ufual fignal made by travellers in Africa when they are 
loft, or feparated from their companions. Our labours were, 
however, ftill unfuccefsful, fo that we agreed to remain, till 
day-light, at the ftde of a fmall fountain ; though we were 
far from being in either an agreeable or fafe fituation, having 
no fi:e-arms, and no poftibility of lighting a fire. Numbers 
of Hyenas howled about us the whole night; and in the 
morning, we found that a large Tiger had been within ten 
yards of us. The thermometer was down at thirty-nine, and 
the mountains were covered with fnow. 
The following day we proceeded in fearch of our people, 
whom we difcovered about noon. We refted a few hours, 
and in the afternoon continued our journey, about fix miles to 
the weftward, where we flayed all night. Our oxen and horfes 
were faftened to the waggon, and fires were, as ufual, made 
arou-id us. 
We next directed our courfe through a dry barren coun¬ 
try, and, in the morning, came to a miferable hovel belonging 
to an European, where we ftayed all night. Next day we 
proceeded through what the Dutch call Karo, v/hich is a 
very extenfive plain, interfperfed with fmall fucculent and 
fruitefcent plants. This defcription may be applicable to many 
parts of Africa ; particularly thofe which are fituated to the 
