Africa jre allowed the unlimited privilege of falling foul on fuch foot paflengers of a night* (-the later the more liable to fufpicion,) fet upon us, and frightened us not a little. It was now half an hour paft eight; however, as the people were not yet in bed, they -came out to our afiift- ance, fo that we received no other wounds than thofe in- flidted on the ikirts of- our coats. We were turned into the kitchen, where we heard a piece of news, that founded like a thunder-clap to u s ; this was, that the baas or- fteward was gone to the review, and that every accommodation was locked up. But I felt the prelfure o f this difficulty ftill more at break o f day,'' In the mean time the ilave, with the greateft good-nature and refpedt, begged jne to be fo kind as to make ihift with a little tea and bread which he had of his own. My fervant, together with this houfe-flave, and another that looked after the cattle, fell on board a loaf o f coarfe bread and lard.; to them a moif delicate and favoury difli. After they had deliberated fome time upon the matter in the Portuguefe language, I was put into the abfent baas's own bed-chamber. The bed was tolerable, but the floor was made o f loam, the walls bare, and the whole furniture confifted o f a cracked .tea-caxjifter, with a few empty bottles, and a couple o f chairs. As the door would not lock I fet the chairs againft it, fo that in cafe any attempt ihould be made againft my life I might be awakened by the noife. After this I laid myfelf down to. fleep, with a drawn knife under my pillow. The many murders that, to my knowledge, were committed in this country, rendered this caution extremely neceffary. The The next morning I began to aik for my breakfaft, which w*- confifted of fome ftale fmalt, a kind o f lard prepared and kept in a wooden trough, to be ufed by way o f butter; I likewife got hold o f a chop o f venifon, which they broiled for me, but feafoned it too high with pepper. My hunger made me fo civil, as not to ihow any flight to my black hoft’s entertainment, but I did not fit long at table. An unexpedted but very violent quarrel, carried on in the Portuguefe language, which I did not underftand, now arofe between the domeftic Have and the cow-keeper. Both their black faces looked like coals on fire. At laft the latter taking out his knife, the other was forced to buy him off with a large flice of meat; upon which lighting his breakfaft pipe, he went his way, after they had on both fides renewed their friendftiip with looks o f the utmoft cordiality. However, for all this feeming reconciliation, the houfe-flave took a cruel revenge on his an- tagonift’s dog, which happened to ftay behind in the kitchen. Yet, notwithftanding his having been guilty of ib mean an adtion, this Have had caught fo much o f the generous flame o f the African hofpitality, that I could not eafily perfuade him to accept o f a trifling acknowledgment for his fervices. Soon after break o f day I fet out again oh my journey, when,; for the firft time fince my arrival in thefe parts, my eyes were gratified >vith the fight o f extenfive corn-fields, which were now in full verdure, with their blades riling a foot out of the ground; for,in Tyger-mountain diftridt, where I was at this time, the -tillage of corn is the huibandman’s chief eipploy. Wheat .and barley, however, are the only forts of corn that are > V o .l . 1» I found
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