1 
A F R I C i\. 409 
dered him wavering; but the thirft of gold 
had at length prevailed ; and the almoft cer-^ 
tainty of finding it had led him thus far on his 
way. Five wretched Hottentots attended him 
in this wearifome pilgrimage. 
By report my name had been known to 
him in the colony, and he had juft learned 
that I had traverfed the country near the 
Orange. In confequence he inquired after 
my route, and direfied his courfe fo as to fall 
in with me. Chance had favoured him be- 
yond his expedatlons : and thence arofe the 
extraordinary joy he teftified at feeing me. 
The converfation, as will readily be fup^ 
pofed, almoft wholly turned on the land of 
promifq towards which he was travelling- — that 
wonderful land, fo fertile in gold, filver, and 
rubies, that he was to pick them up by hand- 
fuls along the rocks and in the rivers ! He 
talked with rapture of thefe imaginary trea- 
fures. Perfuaded, no doubt, that my wag- 
gons were loaded with .them, he expefted 
from my civility that I fhould dired him to 
their beds ; and had depended on obtaining 
from me all the information he wanted. 
I allowed him to y^nt at his eafe all the fol- 
lies 
