BOOK m. CHAP. m. 425 



the Pruflians deferred Port Brandcnburgh, they left it to his 



charge; and he galkntly held it for a long time againft the Dutch, 

 to whom it was afterwards ceded by the Pruflian monarch. He is 

 mentioned with encdmium by feverrtl of our voyage-writers. 



' In 1769, feveral new maiks appdared ; the Ebos, the Papaws, 

 &c. having tlieir refpedive Connus, male and female, who were 

 dreffed in a very laughable Ityle. 



Thefe exercifes,- -although very delightful to themfelves, are not 

 fo to the generality of the white fpedators, on account of the ill 

 fmell which copioufly tranfudes on fuch occafions ; which is rather 

 a coriiplication of ftinks, than any one in particular, and fo rank 

 and powerful, as totally to overcome thole who have any delicacy 

 in the frame of their noftrils. The Blacks of Afric aflign a ridi- 

 culous caufe for the fmell peculiar to the goat; and with equal 

 propriety they may well apply it to themfelves. They fay, " that, 

 •''iii the early ages of mankind, there was a fhe-divinity, who u fed 

 ** to befmear her perfon with a fragrant ointment, that excited the 

 *' emulation of the goats, and made them refolve to petition her, 

 •' to give them a copy of her receipt for making it, or at leall a 

 ** fmall fample of it. The goddefs, incenfed at their prefumpcion, 

 *■' thought of a method to be revenged, under the appearance of 

 *' granting their requell. Inftead of the fweet ointment, (he pre- 

 <' fented them with a box of a very foetid iiiixture, with which 

 *' they immediately fell to bedaubing themfelves. The flench of 

 *' it was communicated to their pofterity ; and, to this day, they 

 " remain ignorant of the trick put upon them, but value them- 

 " felves on pofleifing the genuine perfume; and are fo anxious to 

 " prefcrve if undiminifhed, that they very carefully avoid rain, and 

 *' every thing that might poffibly impair the delicious odour." 

 This rancid exhalation, for which fo matiy of the Negroes are 

 remarkable, does not feem to proceed from uncleanlinefs, nor the 

 quality of their diet. I remember a lady, whofe waiting-maid, a 

 young Negroe girl, had it to a very difagreeable excefs. As (he 

 was a favourite fervant, her miflrefs took great pains, and the girl 

 herfelf fpared none, to get rid of it. With this view, Ihe con- 

 ftantly bathed her body twice a day, and abftained wholly from 

 fldt-fifh, and all forts -of rank food. But the attempt was limilar 

 Vol. II. I i i to 



