AFRICA; 271 
tlieir rights, and how much authority, repofe, 
and happinefs, this guilty profanation deprived 
them of. Indolent by nature, true citizens of 
the world, and little addicted to agriculture^ 
they were not uneafy that ftrangers fhould feize 
on a fmall corner of ufelefs land, which was 
often uninhabited. They thought that whether 
a little farther, or a little nearer, it was of no 
importance where their flocks, the only riches 
worthy of engaging their attention, fought 
for their food, provided they could find it. The 
avaricious policy of the Dutch had a view of 
great hopes from fo peaceful a beginning ; and 
as it is readier, and knows better than any 
other to embrace the advantages offered it by 
fortune, it did not fail to finifh the work, by 
holding out two very feducing allurements to 
the Hottentots — tobacco and ftrong liquors. 
From that moment thefe unhappy favages bid 
adieu to their liberty, and to that pride which 
is infpired by a fenfe of thofe rights which 
mankind inherit from nature. Attraded by 
thefe two baits, they approached as near as 
they could to the fource from which they re- 
ceived them ; whilft the Dutch, who for a 
pipe of tobacco, or a glafs of brandy, could 
procure an ox, paid every attention in their 
power 
