AFRICA. 3Sr 
in my reafoning, and whatever might be the 
effed: of her complacency, in reftoring to her 
frefli cheeks that delicate bloom of youth fo 
frail and fading, flie was always attached to 
her villanous black greafe with as much ob« 
ftinacy as the ladies in Europe are attached 
to their rouge, and to all their paftes, which 
are no lefs difgufting, and perhaps much more 
pernicious. 
My young beauty having begged me to 
give her my mirror, I complied with her re- 
queft ; and flie took a wonderful advantage 
of this favour, which I had fo readily granted, 
to a£k me for every thing that ftruck her fancy. 
I always fuffered myfelf to be overcome; but I 
was at length obliged to refufe her feveral 
articles, both on account of their being indif- 
penfably neceflary to me, and from a fear that 
£he might make a dangerous ufe of them. My 
knee-buckles had alfo tempted her ; for the 
ftones with which they were fet had greatly 
attracted her eyes ; and I fhould have been 
Very glad to have had it in my power to gra- 
tify her once more. How much did I vvdfh 
upon this occafion for the moft wretched pair 
of fteel, to replace this article of luxury, in 
other refpedts very ufelefs ! Unluckily thefe' 
were 
