STUDY X. IL 



on the face of the Earth, there is nothing fo beau- 

 tiful as a handfome man, nor fo (hocking as a 

 very ugly one. 



This 



Ardra, when prifoner to the King of Dahomay, in the year 

 1724, fent word to the Governor of the Englifh fort at Juida, 

 that if he could fend a white woman, or even a mulatto, to this 

 Prince, (he might acquire an unbounded influence over his 

 mind. {General Hijlory of Voyages, by the Abbé Prcjoft. Book 

 viii, page 96.) 



Another King, on a different part of the coaft of Africa, 

 promifed, one day, to a Capuchin miffionary, who was preach- 

 ing the Gofpel in his prefence, to difmifs his feraglio, and em- 

 brace Chriftianity, if he would procure him a white woman to 

 wife. The zealous miffionary immediately repaired to the neareft 

 Portugueze fettlement ; and having enquired, whether there 

 might not be among them fome poor and virtuous damfel, fuch 

 as might fuit his purpofe, he was informed of fuch a perfon, the 

 niece of a very poor man of family, who lived in a ftate of great 

 privacy. He waited for her one Sunday morning, at the door 

 of the church, as fhe was returning from mafs with her kinf- 

 man ; and addreffing himfelf to the uncle, before all the people, 

 charged him, in the name of God, and as he valued the interefts 

 of religion, that he would bellow his niece in marriage on the 

 Negro King. The gentleman and his niece having given their 

 confent, the black Prince married her, after having difmilTed 

 all his other women, and received public baptifm. (Hiflory of 

 Ethiopia, by Labat.) 



The beft informed travellers relate many fuch anecdotes, of a 

 fimilar preference exprelTed by the black Sovereigns of Africa, 

 and of fouthern Afia. Thomas Ro<we, Ambaffador from Eng- 

 land at the Court of the Mogul Selim-Scha, relates, that a very 

 cordial reception was given, by this powerful Monarch, to cer- 

 tain 



