28 
TRAVELS IN 
himself, has not the smallest idea of what an Engfish farmef 
means by the word comfort. Placed in a country where not 
only the necessaries, but almost every luxury of life might by 
industry be procured, he has the enjoyment of none of them. 
Though he has cattle in abundance he makes very httle use 
of milk or of butter. In the midst of a soil and climate most 
favourable for the cultivation of the vine, he drinks no wine. 
He makes use of few or no vegetables nor roots. Three times 
a-day his table is loaded with masses of mutton, swimming in 
the grease of the sheep's tail. His house is either open to the 
roof, or covered only with rough poles and turf, affording a 
favourable shelter for scorpions and spiders ; and the earthy 
floors are covered w'ith dust and dirt, and swarm with insects, 
particularly with a species of the termes, which, though not 
so destructive as some others of this genus, is nevertheless a 
very troublesome and disagreeable animal. His apartments, 
if he happens to have more than one, which is not always 
the case among the grazing farmers, are nearly destitute of 
furniture. A great chest that contains all his moveables, 
and two smaller ones that are fitted to his waggon, are the 
most striking articles. The bottoms of his chairs consist 
of thongs cut from a bullock's hide. The windows are with' 
out glass ; or if there should happen to be any remains of this 
article, it is so patched and daubed as nearly to exclude the 
light it was intended to admit. The boor notwithstanding 
has his enjoyments : he is absolute master of a domain of se- 
veral miles in extent ; and he lords it over a few miserable 
sJaves or Hottentots without control. His pipe scarcely ever 
quits his mouth, from the moment he I'ises till he retires to 
rest, except to give him time to swallow his sopie, or a glass 
3 
