AFRICA. 65 
offer money on thefe occafions would be re- 
garded as an Infult. 
It will naturally be fuppofed that educa- 
tion, in fuch a countryj mud be totally dif- 
ferent from that of Europe. The children 
have not there, as with us, infignificant drums j 
trumpecSj and other pretty but ufelefs toys, 
which we give them to drive away their petu- 
lance, and render them lefs troublefome. With 
the Africans, the only amufement the children 
know, ferves at the fame time as the com- 
mencement of their education. 
It is cuftomary, when the cart or waggon 
belonging to a planter Is not employed, to 
leave it in the open air by the fide of the houfe. 
As foon as the children can climb to the board 
that ferves for a feat, they place themfelves upon 
it; and, with a whip in their hands, exercife 
themfelves in commanding the oxen, which 
are fuppofed to be prefent, calling them by 
their names, ftriking the place of any one that 
is thought not to obey with fufficient readinefs ; 
in a word, in direding the courfe of the wag- 
gon, in making it turn, go on, or recede, pre- 
cifely as they wifh. After having fucceffively 
handled, in this manner, whips fulted to their 
Vol, I, F agCj 
