1772. April. S E C T . ; II. Refidencc at Bay Falfo. AL THO UGH I had already been.dome days at the Cape, I had not yet had an opportunity to fee the refident, (now fub-governor) whofe children I was to in- ftruCt. The reafon was, that he was gone to Bay Falfo, about eighteen miles from the Cape, in order to receive and- make provifion for the fhips: which had juffc before run into the Bay. I therefore fet out to. pay him a vifit there; but ftaid over night.at a refpefifcable yeoman’s, to whom I was addreffed, in order that he might be my guide. Here I for the firft time found, what inconveniences a man is expofed to, who does not underhand the language of the people among which he lives. I had made a ihift to pick up a little German in my voyage from Gottenburgh to the Cape; but this was but of very little fervice, either towards my making myfelf underftood in this place, or towards my underftanding a Dutchman in his language. The necelfity, however, that I was under of communicating my thoughts, contrary to what I had fuppofed, increafed my power of comprehending others, as well as that o f exprefiing my own meaning. My hoft, who was very inquiiitive with regard to affairs 3 in in Europe, as well as defirous to get fome information on medical fubje&s, was inceffantly propounding his queftions to me, as well as he could, in the German tongue. I, on my fide, repeated my anfwers again and again,, expreffing them, in I myfelf did not know what language. It ihould feem, that the German, Swedifh, and Dutch languages have a great analogy to, and much in common with each other; but the great difference iu the pronunciation of them, as well as in their dialeCts, feldom allows one to perceive the fimihtude. My phlegmatic hoftefs, who flood by with open mouth to overhear our converfation, without underftanding one fingle word o f it, relying upon my ignorance of the language, aiked her huiband, whether any thing elfe than abfolute want of the neceffaries of life in Europe could poffibly induce me,, and many other ftran- gers, to come to refide in Africa ? This remark ihewed, that ihe had conceived very indifferent notions of ftrangers; and was the more difficult for me to digeft, as they had given me a very moderate fupper, confifting o f ftewed red cabbage, meat preferved with pepper, and gritty bread. I mention this, however, only as a proof, that the Africans, ignorant of every thing beyond the limits of their own habitation, univerfally entertain moft advantageous and flattering ideas with refpecft to their own country. The next morning I arrived at Bay Falfo. The refident there promifed to perform his engagement with Captain E k e b e r g , and likewife conferred upon me immediately the poft of interpreter between him and the French, who came to that harbour. The politenefs of this nation in conjecturing what one is going to fay, and at
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