AFRICA. 
Being very defirous of clearing up as foon 
as poffible this very intereftlng point of civil 
as well as of natural hiftory, which I had 
more than once found In different books of 
travels and in romances, fuch as thofe of John 
Struys, I repaired next morning to the neigh- 
bouring horde, together with my Hottentot, 
who immediately diftinguifhed the woman 
whofe conformation had fo much aftonifhed ' 
him. When (he was pointed out to me, I 
found her to be a married woman, who had 
feveral children, and who was already pretty 
far advanced in years. I made her feveral 
prefents, under various pretences, in order to 
prepoflefs her in my favour, and to gain her 
efteem ; and, in a word, to prevail upon her 
to permit me to fatisfy my curiofity. I had 
not to deal here with thofe impudent and dif- 
folute Hottentot women of the colonies, al- 
ways too much difpofed to gratify, and even 
to anticipate, the defires of the white men 
and their fcandalous fantafies. Here I had 
reafon to expedl great difficulties, for I knew 
that favage women almoft always refufe that 
to curiofity which they grant to love — a delU 
cate diftindion, which people would not ex- 
ped to fiiid in a defart, Vvhen they carry thi- 
ther 
