154 TRAVELS IN 
all, refpeding Kolben, and difFererit authors ; 
and concerning their reUgion, their laws, and 
their cuftoms : but they openly laughed in my 
face. Sometimes, taking the matter in a ferious 
light, I faw them fall in a paflion, fhrug up 
their fiioulders, and give vent to their im- 
precations. I remember that, endeavouring ta 
vilify their faculties and intelligence, in order to 
nettle them, I compared them to thofe people 
who, in the capital of a great nation like Paris, 
procure without labour a genteel fubfiftence to 
a prodigious number of vagabonds, honoured 
with the modeft appellation of Jharpers, I 
reprefented to them, under a thoufand differ- 
ent forms, the in<renious refources of thefe ca- 
meleons, and greatly extolled their merit : but 
with what fatisfadtiondid I obferve them unani- 
moufly prefer the fmiplicity of their rural and 
peaceful life, and confider thefe refources asbafe 
and fordid means, for a nation who boaft of 
their fup'eriority over the people of nature ! — 
Worthy mortals, who have been painted to us 
as devouring your fellovz-creatures, and whom 
a child however might m.anage! peaceful Hot- 
tentots ! treat with contem.pt thofe people who 
reduce you to a ftate of flavery, and diftinguifl'i 
you 
