INTRODUCTION. x\ 
fcarcely be known. A mode of drefs en- 
tirely new was every where introduced ; but 
fo fantaftical, that it would have been dif- 
ficult to determine from what country it had 
been imported. 
In the courfe of my journey, I had col- 
leded a large quantity of oftrich-feathers^ 
which I intended to tranfmit to Europe. 
When the ladies got notice of this treafurc, 
it was impoflible for me to convey them to 
the place of their deftination. They flocked 
around me from all quarters to beg a few 
of them. People even whom I did not know 
prefented themfelves in the name of this or 
the other lady, and modeflly requefled the 
ufe of a dozen feathers for the evening. I 
difpofed, therefore, of all my plumes as 
fpeedily as pofTible, that I might the fooner 
Ihut up fhop. Such was the folly of the day ; 
and this mode of infinuating one's-felf into 
the good graces of the fair fex was fo effica- 
cious, 
