thither from Senegal; where, as'M. Adanfon fays, they have
an excellent breed of them. The removal of all kinds of
goods would be infinitely facilitated by this importation ;
and there are feveral fpots of ground, where cattle cannot
feed, that would be extremely fuitable to animals which are
fo indifferent in regard to food.
We palled the next day at Mr. Mafon’s country-houfe,
at the diftance of four or Jive miles from the town. We
made a circuit, in order to go up a high mountain adjacent
to Diana’s Peak, where we collected fome curious plants,
though the weather was-very, rainy. Having feen on this
excurfion a fmall kind of blue dove, which is faid to have
been originally found in the country, as well as the red-
legged partridge; and likewife fome rice-birds, commonly
called paddies (ioxia oryzivora), which have been introduced
from the Eaft Indies we palled a fmall farm, about a
Quarter of a mile from the road, where two Bramins refid
ed, who were accufed of having oppofed the Companv’s
intered in India. Whether the crime was real or imaginary*
remains undetermined; but I could not avoid taking notice
of the different manner in which the Dutch and Englilh treat
their captives. The king of Madure is locked in a dungeon
on Robben Illand, whereas thefe Bramins are fuffered
to be at large, and have a houfe and gardens, with all kinds
of provifions, befides feveral Haves to wait upon them.
in
In the evening we returned to town, where Mr. Graham .may.
gave a ball to the inhabitants. On entering the room, I was
very agreeably furprifed with the great beauty and elegance
difplayed in a numerous circle of ladies ; I thought myfelf
fuddenly tranfported to the mod brilliant capital of Europe.
their features were regular, their forms graceful, and their
complexion pcrfeflly fair. To thefe charms we may add an
eafy deportment, a genteel education, a pleafing flow of
fpirits, and acutenefs of underftanding, which gave conftant
life to their converfation, and totally banfihed all formal
conflraint. The fame company graced another ball the
next night, which was given by Mr. Laurel; and, notwith-
ftanding the Ihort interval which was left for repofe, we
had the fame reafon as before to admire their vivacity and
aftivity. The number of ladies was lb great, that fome of
them were at a lofs for partners, notwithftanding the prefence
of many perfons from on board the two {hips in the
harbour. On this occafion we were told, that the number
of female children born in this illand evidently exceeds that
of males, in the fame manner as it remarkably does at the
Cape of Good Hope. It would be an important circum-
ftance to afcertain, whether this is always the cafe in warm
countries, efpecially as philofophers could not fail to draw
many inferences from thence relative to the domeftic life
of different nations. Thefe proportions are not yet well
afcertained, .even in fome parts of Europe ; and where they
Vol. II. 4 D ar'e