TRAVELS IN AFRICA. 9

to render any assistance, rode forward to the

Tingalinta. We left Harrimakona at two, p. m. and got on tolerably well until we arrived at a

difficult pass in a wood, where those in front dis-

turbed a swarm of bees, which made so violent

an attack on both men and animals, that all

were thrown into confusion. On my being made acquainted with the cause, I considered it

a very frivolous excuse for allowing the horses and asses to run about in all directions, throw-

ing off their loads ; and was reprimanding the men for their carelessness, when I was attacked by so dense a swarm of those insects, that I was

obliged to retreat, and suffer the mortification of

exhibiting myself in the same predicament with

those I had just been reproving. It was sunset

before the bees dispersed, or we could collect

the animals, many of whom suffered severely,

from the bees getting into their eyes, ears, and

nostrils ; one of our best horses di^d on the

spot, and some of the asses were unable to rise from the ground. We reached the Changeballe

stream at nine o'clock, but the darkness of the

night, and the difficulty of the passage prevent-

ed our crossing.

From the number of animals stung by the bees on the 2d, we were in a bad state for travelling

on the morning of the 3rd ; the third and fourth

divisions, however, moved forward to the Tinga-