A F R I C A. 6j 
But at that time the objed for which I travelled 
among them depended^ I conceived, for its 
fUccfefs, upon my keeping at a diftance. 
What proves ftill farther the extreme good^ 
nature and benevolence of thefe people, is, that 
a ftranger, the moment he is received by the 
mafter of the houfe, becomes in a manner a 
member of the family. Accuftoined to a family 
life, they delight in ties of affinity, and con*- 
fider in the light of a relative every perfon they 
love. The children who climbed my knees, 
either for the purpofe of careffing me, or to ad- 
mire and count my buttons, called me their 
grand-father. I was the coufin of the parents, 
and the uncle of the daughters ; and among my 
nieces, I frankly confefs, there was more than 
one whofe artlefs importunities and eloquent 
eyes have frequently made me forgetful of 
the hour I had fixed for leaving them. 
Upon entering a houfe, the form of faluta^ 
ticn is, to fhake hands firft with the mafter, 
and then with every male perfon in the com- 
pany, arrived at years of maturity. If there 
happens to be any one whom we do not like, 
the hand is refufed to him ; and this refufal, 
of fo common 4 teftimony of friendfliip, is 
looked 
