6 I N T P. O D U e T I O N. 
a thoiifand efforts to throw them up, all ks 
exertions were in vain. The torture which 
it fuffered made me forget the devaftatioa 
it had occafioned ; I thought only of afford-? 
ing it relief : but neither my tears, nor all the 
art of my father's flaves, whom I called from 
all quarters with loud cries, were able to pre- 
ferve its life. This accident difconcerted me ve- 
ry much, but it did not difcourage me : I foon 
gave myfelf up to new refearches ; and, not 
contented with one treafure, I wifhed to unite 
feveral. By a natural progrcffion I turned 
my attention towards birds. As our flaves did 
not fupply me with a fufficient number, I 
armed myfelf with a tube*, and an Indian 
bov/ : in a fhort fpace of time I could ule 
them with much dexterity. I fpent whole 
days in vv^atching; in a word, I became a keen 
fportfman. It was then obferved, and I 
myfelf was fenfible of it, that this tafle 
vv^as changed into a violent paffion, which 
dlfturbed even my hours of repofe, and to 
w^hich years have fall added firength. 
* Sarbdcanne — a kind of tube, through which fmall 
ii'oXXs are blown v/ith the mcutho 
Some 
