144 TRAVELS IN 
have in them the feeds of every vlce^ and of 
every irregularity. 
Such, in general, Is the Information which 
I acquired myfelf, by living among the Hot- 
tentots. But I fliall flop here, left I fatigue 
the reader's patience by thefe dry details ; and 
return to them only when I may have an op- 
portunity of mentioning them without being 
tedious in my relation of the different even1t$ 
of my journey. 
As I propofed to pafs a confiderable time 
in Africa, my firft care was to ftudy the 
language of the inhabitants; and I indeed 
fucceeded beyond expeftation. The lan- 
guage of thefe people being very poor, has 
110 occafion for words to exprefs abftrad and 
metaphyfical ideas ; it is fufceptible of no 
ornament. Though it has neither elegant 
phrafes nor a correft fyntax, its difficulties 
are no lefs infurmountable to thofe who are 
deftitute of genius and patience. I have 
however been too well rewarded for the pains 
I beftowed on this part of my labours, by the 
pleafure I enjoyed of being able to converft 
freely with thefe people^ ever to regret that 
I added a knowledge of this lingular dialeft 
to that of feveral other laiiguages which have 
been 
