AFRICA. 6s 
They all imagined me to be a hairy ani- 
mal ; and fuppofed, without doubt, that 'my 
body was covered with hair as long as that on 
my chin ^ but, finding this not to be the cafe, 
they were aftonlihed, and confellid, wiih the 
opennefs of favages, that they had never feen 
the like in any man of their country. The 
little children, terrified at my appearance, hid 
thertifelves behind their mothers. When I at- 
tempted to lay hold of any of them, in order 
to carefs them, they fent forth loud cries, as a 
child would do in Europe who fhould fee a 
negro for the firft time. 
Such was my fituation among this multitude, 
who prefTed upon me in crowds. Though the 
only perfon of my colour among them, I re- 
figned myfelf to them without fear. The 
aftoniihment which many of them fhow^ed at 
the fight of a white man, and the tumult it 
occafioned, did not furprife me. 
Through this haraffing curiofity I more and 
more perceived that invariable principle of na- 
ture, which gives to the favage a fimple, mild, 
and unfufpicious character : and indeed, before 
I had been twenty-four hours in the horde, I was 
become the friend of every one, and the m oft 
Vol. III. F perfea 
