AFRICA. 305 
the field of battle ; and was approaching to- 
wards that moment, when wounded to the foul 
by the diftrelling fpeCtacle which I had con- 
tinually before my eyes, and inflamed with the 
moft ardent defire of ferving thofe unfortunate 
wretches, with whom I was not acquainted — - 
whom I had never feen, nor was perhaps ever 
to fee ; but whofe difmal fituation excited my 
compaflion— I was preparing, if all thefe people 
would have followed me, to traverfe fifty 
leagues of CafFraria, at the rifque of every 
thing that might happen ; and to re-eftablifli 
peace for ever in that unhappy country. I 
was not however feconded in my views by a 
fmgle perfon. Heaven itfelf, in my opinion^ 
could not have freed thofe who followed me 
from their terror : but I can more juftly cover 
with opprobrium thofe daftardly Hottentots of 
the colonies whom I vifited two days after^ 
for the fhameful manner in which their chief 
refufed to aflifl: me in an expedition which 
w^ould have undoubtedly fucceeded^ and done 
the greateft honour to humanity, 
A frefii misfortune, which had a little before 
taken place in thefe unhappy countries, added 
confiderably to my courage, and heated my 
imagination. I was told that, about fix weeks 
Vol, L * X, prior 
