424 DIFFERENCES IN 



found leisure from the pursuit of riches to instil into them 

 the true spirit of Christianity. " The feelings of the Ne- 

 groes (says an accurate observer) are extremely acute. Ac- 

 cording to the manner in which they are treated, they are 

 gay or melancholy, laborious or slothful, friends or enemies. 

 When well fed, and not maltreated, they are contented, 

 joyous, ready for every enjoyment ; and the satisfaction of 

 their mind is painted in their countenance. But, when op- 

 pressed and abused, they grow peevish, and often die of 

 melancholy. Of benefits and abuse they are extremely sen- 

 sible, and against those who injure them they bear a 

 mortal hatred. On the other hand, when they contract an 

 affection to a master there is no office, however hazardous, 

 which they will not boldly execute, to demonstrate their 

 zeal and attachment. They are naturally affectionate, and 

 have an ardent love for their children, friends, and country- 

 men. The little they possess they freely distribute among 

 the necessitous, without any other motive than that of pure 

 compassion for the indigent *.^' 



The travels of Barrow, Le Vaillant, and Mungo 

 Park, abound with anecdotes honourable to the moral cha- 

 racter of the African, and proving that they betray no defi- 

 ciency in the amiable qualities of the heart. One of these 

 gives us an interesting portrait of the chief of a tribe : " His 

 countenance was strongly marked with the habit of reflec- 

 tion ; vigorous in his mental, and amiable in his personal 

 qualities, Gaika was at once the friend and ruler of a happy 

 people, who universally pronounced his name with transport, 

 and blessed his abode as the seat of felicity." Some Euro^ 

 pean kings might take a lesson from this savage. 



Mr. Barrow gives a picture, by no means unpleasing, of 

 the Hottentots. Their indolence probably arises from the 

 state of subjection in which they live ; as the wild Bosjes- 

 men are particularly active and cheerful. 



" They are a mild, quiet, and timid people 3 perfectly 

 harmless, honest, faithful ; and, though extremely phleg- 



* Hlstoire dts JntilleSf p. 48.^^. 



