62 STUDIES OF NATURE. 



I do not mean to fupport, by Sacred Authority, 

 nor by that which thefe unfortunate wretches 

 themfelves furnifli, the tyranny which we exercife 



over 



tliat of men who poflefs gold, their tradition would have been 

 completely reverfed. 



Similar opinions may be traced through other African black 

 tribes, particularly among the blacks of the Cape de Verd 

 Iflands, as may be feen in the excellent account given of them 

 by George Robert. This unfortunate Navigator was obliged to 

 flee for refuge to the Uland of St. John, where he received 

 from the inhabitants the moft aifefting proofs of generofity 

 and hofpitality, after having undergone the mofl atrocioufly 

 cruel treatment from his countrymen, the Englifli pirates» 

 who plundered his vefTel. 



It mult, however, be acknowledged, that if fome African 

 tribes excel us in moral qualities, the Negros, in general, are 

 very inferior to other Nations in thofe of the underflanding^. 

 They have never to this day difcovercd the addrefs of managing 

 the elephant as the Afiatics have done. They have carried no 

 one fpecies of cultivation to it's highefl degree of perfedlion. 

 They are indebted for that of the greatefl part of their alimen- 

 tary vegetables to the Portugueze, and to the Arabians. They 

 pradife no one of the liberal Arts, which had made, however, 

 fome progrefs amo)ig the inhabitants of the New World, who 

 are much more modern than they. Nature has placed them on 

 a part of the Continent, from whence they might with eafe 

 have penetrated into America, as the winds which blow thither 

 are eafterly, that is, perfectly fair ; but fo far from that, they 

 had not even difcovered the iflands in their vicinity, fuch as 

 the Canaries and the Cape de Verds. The black Powers of 

 Africa have never to this hour difcovered genius equal to the 

 conilrudion of a brigantiue. So far from attempting to extend 



their 



