AFRICA. 33 
thefe waters a homage that pofterlty would 
perhaps have confecrated. 
In vlfiting Franche Hoeck, I did not, as 
before, regard withbut intereft that race of 
French refugees, formerly perfecuted by their 
unjuft country, ftripped, profcribed, difhonour- 
ed as fo many wretches unworthy to exift. 
Vidims of fanaticifm and intolerance, and 
deftitute of every other refuge, they repaired 
to this mlferable folitude, which the pity of 
fome neighbouring governments affigned 
them ; a pity which would have feared to 
have allowed them a refidence too near the 
feat of their original difafter. Banifhed from 
France, they have even forgotten the language ; 
but they have not forgotten their calamity. 
Their cuftoms they have borrowed from the 
Dutch, their original charader being totally 
loft ; but they are diftinguifhed, for the moft 
part, by the darknefs of their hair, which forms 
a ftriking contraft with the almoft white hair of 
the other inhabitants. It is thus that invifibly 
are deftroyed the modifications that the life of 
man receives from his government, his educa- 
lion, and his laws. Every thing is gradually 
annihilated, reeompofed, revived ; a few tra- 
VoL. I. D ditions^ 
