AFRICA, 7t 
theirs. The fame method was employed 
with my anfwers. Nothing reached my ear 
till it had paffed through four different mouths. 
The refult, however, made me eafily per- 
ceive, that the idea was conveyed to me with 
as much alteration as are the thoughts of the 
ancient poets to thofe unacquainted with the 
learned languages, notwithftanding the fub^ 
lime genius of our tranflators. 
The Hottentots whom I had procured at 
the Cape and in the colonies underftood none 
of thefe dialeds; and they were, confe- 
quently, of no fervice in our conferences : a 
circumftance which feemed to vex them. 
But what chagrined me more, and render^ 
ed my converfation truly fatiguing, was, 
that my Nimiquas underftood the Koraqug. 
language very imperfedly ; fo imperfect- 
ly indeed, that they often difputed re- 
fpeding the meaning of what was faid to 
them. 
It therefore fometimes happened, that, 
when I afked any thing, the anfwer had no 
relation to the queftion. No remedy could 
be found for this inconvenience ; and it was 
likely to increafe, the farther I advanced into 
F4 
