TRAVELS IN 
fooii overtook him. By the evident figns 
which he exhibited of terror and embarraff- 
ment, I concluded that he was a Bofhman, 
His life was in my hands : in thefe defarts I 
could have exerclfed my right of fovereignty, 
and might have punifhed him, had I been cruel, 
for all the crimes of his countrymen, and for 
the inexcufable fault of belonging to thefe 
plunderers ; but hitherto I had no caufe to 
complain of thefe people, and befides I was 
defirous of profiting by this rencounter, and of 
procuring new information : a planter how- 
ever would have aded in a quite different 
manner. By my looks he plainly difcovered 
that I had no intention of doing him any hurt; 
and, after fome queftions relating to the fitua- 
tion in which we refpedively v^^ere, and which 
he could not anfv^^er without trembling, he 
began to refume his courage, and to have fome 
confidence in me. As I complained to him of 
the fcarcity of game in the places which I had 
traverfed, he informed me where I would be 
certain of finding what I wanted. I ordered my i 
Hottentot, who had now overtaken me, to 
make him a prefent of a part of his tobacco ; 
and, after wifhing him more moderation and 
probity, I turned my horfe round, and con- 
tinued 
