to fear from this quarter, took occafion, when he faw me thoughtful as we walked along, to call my mind into action by explaining fome of the African terms, which in the end proved of great utility.

After about two hours march, we reached a deep ravine; through this it was neceffary to pass, in order to gain the hills which we had to cross the enfuing day, and at the foot of which we were to take our repofe for the night. The fide upon which we ftood was marfhy, and that oppofite to us fhaggy, and covered with thick irregular underwood. We had been fearching for a place convenient to ford, the current appearing too rapid, and too deep, to venture across with perfect confidence, when, as I was loft in a momentary reflection, my companion fuddenly roared out that there was a crocodile-I had fcarcely power to move: a fudden rustling in the reeds, with a loud plunge in the water, left me totally ftupified: Hurdee had purfued the animal

and caufed his plunging into the water, and now returning, roufed me from my terror by immoderate laughter. I judged it prudent, however, to conceal as much as poffible my embarraffment, acknowledging that I was in a flight degree alarmed. We croffed the creek in a place that was fordable, and fpeedily afcended the floping fide of the oppofite bank, which as we afcended thickened with charming timber, and led to a long and winding range of beautiful hills, at the feet of which we could trace the river gradually narrowing to the eye, and receiving the tribute of a thoufand little ftreams that flowed from the woods, and declivities that prefented themselves in wild but fimple grandeur, far as the fight could reach in an eastwardly direction.-The approach of night, and the fun fetting behind us, threw an impofing fhade over this landscape that is not capable of description.

We concluded to form our encampment in one of the valleys, and accordingly pra

ceeded to light a fire, and for the first time guard against the beafts of prey, the traces of whofe feet I marked with lively apprehenfion in the course of the day, and to keep clear of the monkeys that I learned to expect in great numbers, from the accounts my guide had already given me.

We chofe a fituation fomewhat detached from the thickets beneath the rich and lofty palm tree, and having collected wood fufficient to sustain large fires during the night, we dreffed our plain but delicious repaft, composed ourselves to reft, and paffed a tolerably eafy night, free from every real danger, although I was still in fome fear of the wild beasts.

Our distance from the villages that we had left I calculated, to be not more than fixteen miles, having pursued with little deviation the irregular courfe of the river. To this we were compelled, in order to avoid the obftructions to which we might have been

fubjected by the inhabitants who occafion'ally refide, at this feafon of the year, contiguous to the oppofite bank of the river. To their proximity, Hurdce informed me we might attribute the compofure of the night, and my being released from the terrific howlings of wild beasts.

The opening of the morning was the fignal for our rifing. Having dreffed our neceffary provifions of goats flesh over night, we refreshed as appetite required, and after bathing in an adjacent rivulet, we proceeded on our journey. After two hours travel along the skirt of an irregular hill, we difcovered at some distance, several of the natives fcattered apart with bows and arrows: thefe Hurdee informed me were in purfuit of game. We endeavoured to gain the covert of the wood, but they had also perceived us, and had formed into two parties, one of which prefented themselves in our way, and appeared difpofed to difpute our paffage through the path into which we had turned. They flood

for a confiderable time with marks of furprize, but without the least appearance of violcn intentions. In the mean time, the other party had approached us at fome diftance behind, where they also stood fixed with admiration.

My unacquaintance with the temper of the people, and judging of their ferocity by circumstances that belonged to the fevere character of the favages of the American Lakes, I fuggefted to my companion my fears of their intentions being hostile: he made answer they were friends, and left me little opportunity for further confideration, when he advanced towards them in a flow pace; I followed him in the fame manner.

When we had reached the party in front within about twenty paces, Hurdee spoke to them in their own language; they appeared much pleased, and approached us without further referve; the fecond party foon after joined us likewife.