AFRICA, 109 
interefted in doing it. I have my own reafons 
for ading with this referve, almoft in the fame 
manner as the reader may have his for being 
curious ; and neither the reader nor I has any 
orcalion to know them. However, from Kol- 
ben's reveries we may coUeft certain fadts, 
which a refidence of ten years at the Cape 
Town gave him an opportunity of obferving. 
In this point he has not impofed fo much oa 
the public as may be imagined. His book, 
perhaps, contains truths which do not exift at 
prefent, and which have been confidered as fa- 
bles. But manners, characters, fafliions, laws, 
ppd even empires, change in the courfe of timc> 
and exhibit variations almoft without number. 
They are like the features of a countenance dif- 
figured by old age, and which has no refem- 
blance to the portrait, made from it when in 
the bloom of youth. 
The cafe is not the fame with what this fe- 
dentary traveller has boldly advanced refpeding 
the Hottentots and their religious ceremonies* 
If what he defcribes ever exifted, the fpirit of 
philofophy, which imperioufly hovers over 
Europe, muft have a little cooled the fcorching 
air of the African regions; for I obferved there 
no 
