AFRICA, 199 
the plantations, and advanced Into the country, 
every thing In my eyes aflumed a new appear- 
ance. The profpeds became more magni- 
ficent ; the foil feemed to be more fruitful and 
rich ; nature appeared to be more majefticand 
grand ; and the lofty mountains prefented, on 
all fides, more charming and delightful points 
of view, than I had ever met with. Thefe 
fcenes, contrafted with the dry and parched 
fields of the Cape, made me believe that I 
was more than a thoufand leagues from It. 
" What! " faid I, In my ecftafy, ftiall thefe • 
fuperb regions be eternally inhabited by 
" tigers and lions ? What fpeculator, with 
" the fordid view only of eftablilhing a kind 
" of center for commerce, could have preferred 
" the ftormy Table Bay to the numberlefs 
" roads, and natural and commodious harbours, 
" which are to be found on the eaflern coafts 
" of Africa ? " 
Thus v/as I refleding within myfelf, whilfl: 
I was climbing the mountain on foot, and 
forming vain wifhes for the conqueft of this 
beautiful country, which the Indo-ent policy 
of the European nations will perhaps never 
gratify. 
O4 Wc 
