12 TRAVELS IN 
When I awoke, Amiroo's companion had 
fet out to inform Haabas that I intended to 
pay him a vifit the fame day. 
Whatever may be the extent of the defarts 
of Africa^ we mufi: not form any calculations 
refpeding its population from thofe innume- 
rable fwarms of blacks which are found on the 
weftj and which border all the coafts of the 
ocean, from theCanary Ifles to the environs of 
the Cape of Good Hope. There is certainly no 
proportion to enable us to hazard even a con- 
jedure ; fince by a trade approved by a few, 
and held in deteftation by the greater num- 
ber^the barbarous navigators of Europe have 
induced thefe negroes, by the moft villan- 
ous attraftions, to give up thqir prifoners, or 
thofe who are inferior to them in ftrength. 
As their v/ants increafed, they have become 
inhuman and perfidious beings ; the prince 
has fold his fubjefts ; the mother has fold 
her fon ; and nature, as au accomplice, has 
rendered her prolific. 
This difgufting and execrable traffic is, 
however, ftill unknown in the interior parts 
of the Continent. The dcfart is really a de- 
fart ; and it is only at certain diftances that 
one meets with a few hordes, that are not 
7 num.erousj 
