AFRICA. e^ 
^ith liberty to hunt as much as he pleafes. 
Entering at this period Into the enjoyment of 
all the rights of man, he regards himfelf as 
fuch, and haftens to choofe among the girls of 
the neighbourhood a miftrefsi whom he finally 
marries ; for it is feldom that a youth is found 
to pay his addreffes to feveral women. 
The planters being all hunters, from having 
their flocks and fields to defend from the ra- 
vages of wild beads, are provided with a certain 
number of fufeeSj according as the family is 
large or fmall 5 and refpeding thefe guns, they 
employ a precaution that is fingulan Exfje- 
rience has taught them that the brightnefs of 
the barrel frequently alarms, by its refledion, 
the animal of which they are in purluit, and 
warns him to fly. To remedy this inconveni- 
ence, the barrels in Europe are browned ; but 
the planters, who are not fkilled in this art, rub 
them over with the blood of flieep ; an opera- 
tion which, though lefs neat, indeed, and plea- 
fant, produces the fame effedl:, fince the inftru- 
ment becomes thereby equally tarnithed. 
Upon the queftion of the excellence of fire 
arms, their prejudices and principles are very 
diflTerent from eurs. In their eftimation a gun 
F2 is 
