AFRICA, 87 
relation which they bore one to another. 
This ftudy, which I found very agreeable, 
gave me an opportunity of changing my 
amufements ; and on returning from one of 
my excurfions to the Cape Town I had 
formed a colledlion fo valuable, that Mr. 
Percheron, the French agent at the Cape, 
fent it, in my name, for the king's garden, 
addreffed to that refpedable family whofe 
name I dare not mention ; but whom Nature, 
by revealing to them her fweeteft fecrets, and 
entrufting them with the particular care of 
her hidden treafures, hath ranked among her 
deareft favourites. Thefe plants however 
did not reach the place of their deflination : 
1 was informed by the French agent that 
the veflel on board which they were, perifhed 
at fea. I was more fortunate with regard to 
the drawings I had made, and which I brought 
along with me. An eminent botanift affured 
me that he was unacquainted with the greater 
part of the plants which they reprefented. 
I fhall lay them before the public hereafter. 
I now return to details which are eafier 
and within my reach^ I mean thofe refpeft- 
ing my dear Gon'aquas. * 
By only looking at thefe favages, it would 
G 4 be 
