AFRICA. 375 
butcher-birds came alfo to partake of them, 
as well as vultures. 
I muft here alk pardon of the ancient and 
modern poets, for thus degrading the dignity 
of this noble animal : it is fhocking I con- 
fefs, to fee this fublime bird of the mafter 
of the gods fall fliamefully upon the fcat- 
tered remains of an infecTiious carcafe, and 
feed with great pleafure. 
On the 1 8th we fpent part of the night In 
firing our pieces to drive away two more 
lions, and a voracious flock of hysenas. I did 
not fleep till very late, and when I awaked I 
was greatly furpriftd to find about a fcore of 
the Gonaqua Hottentots in my camp. This 
vifit, and its confequences, deferve a more 
ample detail. The reader, in this plain nar- 
ration, will acquire jufter ideas refpecSting the 
African favages, than from all the differt acions 
of phllofophers. 
The chief approached to pay his refpeds to 
me, and the v/omen in full drefs marched be- 
hind him. They all fhone very much, and 
had been newly botighoued\ that is to fay, after 
rubbing their bodies with greafe, they had 
befprinlded themfelves with a kind of red pow- 
der, made of a root named in the country 
B b 4 houghou^ 
