AFRICA. 95 
gave him a proof of my friendihlp that was 
by no means trivial. 
An unfortunate event had formerly taketi 
place, that had nearly coft him his life. In 
the heat of a quarrel, and from a fudden 
impulfe of anger, he had ftruck a Hottentot 
woman, who had died in confequence of 
ithe blow. The circumftance having been re^- 
prefented, in an unfavourable light, to the 
juftice of the canton, who had no great 
Jcindnefs for him, poor Sv/anapoel was fen- 
tenced to be baniihed, for the reit of his days, 
to Roben Ifland. He had already reiided 
there feveral years, when the declaration of 
war between England and Holland caufed the 
ifland to be evacuated, and the convi£is to be 
conveyed on board the company*s fhips. It 
was at this period that I entered upon my firft 
travels. I have fufficiently fpoken of him ia 
the courfe cf my narrative ; and fo honeflly 
did he difcharge the offices I appointed him, 
that I confidered his crime, which was known 
to me, as having long been expiated. My 
friend, the fifcal, who had enquired into the 
particulars of the old man's ilory, did not 
^ait for my report of his charader to do him 
fome 
