AFRICA. 117 
debted for them to nature : in him love is a 
very confined want, and he does not convert 
it, as in civilized countries, into a tumultu- 
ous paffion, which carries diforder and de- 
ftrudion along with it. In vain fliould I 
attempt, after the example of Bufi^on, to era- 
dicate this fever of the mind, this difeafe of 
exalted imaginations. I fhall not break to 
pieces an altar loaded with the rich gifts of 
poets and romance writers; I fhould have too 
powerful antagonifts to combat : and the di- 
vinity who owes his birth to fuch beautiful 
chimeras, would let loofe his votaries agalnft 
me, nor ever forgive me for this impious fa* 
crilege. 
A phyfiognomift, or, if the reader clioofes, 
a modern wit, would entertain his company 
by affigning to the Hottentot, in the fcale of 
beings, a place between man and theourang- 
outang. I cannot however confent to this 
fyftematlc arrangement ; the qualities which 
I efteem in him will never fuffer him to be 
degraded fo far ; and I have found his figure 
fufficiently beautiful, becaufe I experienced 
the goodnefs of his heart. It muft indeed 
be allowed that there is fomething peculiar 
in his features; which in a certain degree 
I 3 feparates 
