AFRICA. 329 
king Faroo. He advlfed me to penetrate as 
far as the place of his abode; alTuring me that 
I had nothing to fear, and no danger to run : 
©n the contrary, he told me that both the 
prince and his fubjeds would receive me with 
great pleafure ; in hopes that, on my return to 
the Cape, a relation of what I had feen of 
their manners, their charaSer, and their way 
of life, would efface thofe unfavourable ideas 
every where formed of them, from the accounts 
of the planters, whom they detefted ; and that 
perhaps they would then be fufFered to enjoy 
tranquillity, the only favour which they re- 
quefted from the white people. 
On the firft view, this reafoning was plaufi- 
ble and feducing ; and I was fully fenfible of 
all the advantages that might arife to me from 
the execution of fuch a projeft. I fufFered 
myfelf, indeed, to be almoft perfuaded ; but, 
on the other hand, if through imprudence, or 
excefs of confidence, I fhould lofe the fruits 
of all my travels, or if I fhould happen to be 
mafTacred, this flep would be confidered as a 
maflerpiece of folly and extravagance. I well 
knew the fickle and unfleady difpofition of the 
offspring of the whites and the Hottentots ; 
and I refleiled, for the firfl time, on what this 
man 
