AFRICA. 4tt 
illufion every moment returned to their m^nds : 
they fet againft my teftimony the unanimpu$ 
affertlons pf the planters, and the conftant tra- 
dition of fpurfcore years. Soon, however, the 
curtain dropped again ; the truth once more 
ftared them in the face ; and the falfe opinion 
they had conceived frorn what had been told 
them was at length completely diflipated. 
To fuffer then; any longer to remain in this 
painfuj ftate would have been cruel In me. 
Difappointment was already figured on their 
countenances, and their .fixed dejefted look 
denoted how profound was their forrow. I 
had deftroyed all their hopes ; they were too 
well convinced for their happinefs ; and I 
thought it time to revive their fpirits, by fub- 
ftituting rational fchemes for wild and fenfelefs 
chimeras. 
Ignorance mifreprefents In Its accounts the 
ill as much as the good ; becaufe, unable to 
eftimate the value of either, it exaggerates both. 
When imaginary treafures had been announ- 
ced to thcfe people, they had at the fame time 
been terrified by dangers equally unfounded. 
It was neceffary therefore, in the firft place, to 
^iffipate their fears, and reprefent the country 
