AFRICA. ;j89 
Thefe people had taken great pleafure in pro- 
pagating an hundred abfurd tales refpefting 
me; and they afked me an hundred ridiculous 
queftions one after the other: they aflerted, 
for example, that I had brought back waggon 
loads of gold-duft and jewels, found in the 
rivers, or on rocks, never before explored. 
One of thefe credulous peafants begged me to 
fhew him that magnificent precious ftone, fu- 
perior to the diamond, and as large as an egg, 
found in the head of an enormous ferpent,with 
which I had fought a moft defperate and bloody 
battle. I mention thefe abfurdities merely to 
juftify what I have faid elfewhere refpeding 
that ftupid fondnefs for the marvellous, by 
which the planters amufe their idle hours, and 
diflipate the languor which opprefTes them. 
I intended to remain reclufe in the place 
where I was till evening, but the number of the 
curious increafed fo much every minute, that 
I loft all patience, and departed abruptly. In 
vain did I attempt to avoid three or four plan- 
tations fituated in the canton through which 
it was neceffary for me pafs ; importunity 
every where purfued me, fo that I had no 
other refource but to take advantage of the 
obfcurity of the night, and to go almoft like a 
C c 3 malefador, 
