AFRICA, 89 
This Indifference for an article, which I ha4 
feen eagerly fought for by all favage nations, 
and which was confidered by them as an exqui- 
fite enjoyment, feemed to fliew, as w^ell as 
many other circumftances already mentioned, 
that there were traits In the charader of thefe 
people which diftinguifted them from others. 
The cafe was the fame as to ftrong liquors, oiV 
which they fet no great value ; and though 
there \yere arnong them fome few individuals 
difpofed to relifh them, the greater number 
abfolutely refufed them. 
If the contents of my flalks gave them llt-r 
tie fatisfadion, they were, however, much 
captivated with the flafts themfelves. Thefe 
tranfparent bottles excited their admiration in 
the higlieft degree. They called them folid 
water; for, notwlthftanding the heat of the 
climate, thefe favages had feen ice on the fum- 
piits of the mountains by which they are fur- 
rounded ; and they entertained no doubt that 
the glafs of my flafks was water, v^^hich 1 had 
rendered folid by magic, and which I prevent- 
ed their fires from melting. As it was impof- 
fible for me to explain this matter, I did not 
attempt to undeceive them : and befides, with 
what 
