388 TRAVELS IN 
remove, for the farther we went the more 
frequent they became. I was under the ne- 
ceffity of paffing clofe to that of John Pinar. 
Though he earneftly requefted me to flop and 
refrefh myfelf at his houfe, I declined his 
Invitation, and purfued my journey; but the 
inhabitants, whether white men, Hottentots, 
or negroes, all haftened to fee my caravan 
file off, almoft in the fame manner as in 
our great cities people flock to fee fome curi- 
ous fhew or uncommon fpedtacle. My beard, 
above all, in a country where neither Jews nor 
capuchins are ever known, appeared to be a 
wonderful and an extraordinary phenomenon ; 
though it put the children to flight, and fl:ruck 
a great terror into the women. After difem- 
barrafl^ng myfelf with great diflBculty from 
the importunity of the inquifitive, who ha- 
ralTed me with their queftions, I reached, at 
half after eleven at night, a peaceful inhabited 
retreat, at the diftance of three leagues: but 
th'e news of my return were fpread abroad j 
and next morning, fcarcely had daylight ap- 
peared, when more than twenty of the inha- 
bitants, attracted by curiofity, furrounded my 
camp, that, whatever route I fliould purfue, it 
might be impojSible for me to efcape them. 
^ Thefe 
