AFRICA. i8i 
not be happy except when furrounded by- 
carnage and flaugbter, hi hopes of ftirring 
tip the flames of war, and reviving ancient 
quarrels, thought proper to procure from the 
town a few gun-barrels, which were of no 
more value than old iron. Having eafily found 
means to exchange them with theCafFres,who 
are always in want of fuch things, before he 
delivered them he fpiked up the touch-holes, 
put a double charge of powder into each of 
them, and filled them with nails and pieces of 
iron, which he rammed into them up to the 
mouth. The unhappy favages, who were 
not acquainted with fire-arms but from their 
efFeds, and who knew nothing of their me- 
chanifm, carried home their barrels, and pre- 
pared to form them into affkgays. The fires 
being kindled, and the fatal barrels put into 
them, as foon as they grew hot the powder 
took fire, and produced a dreadful explofion, 
which in a moment fcattered the Immenfe 
furnace, the workmen, and their inftruments ; 
and even wounded a great many who flood 
at a confiderable diftance. One of them^ who 
told me this circumftance, of which the 
whole horde were witneffes, niade me count 
the wounds he received by this tragical ex- 
N 3 periment. 
