ISO TRAVELS IN 
from my plan, affigning as a reafon the pretend* 
ed charadter of the African tribes, whom they 
reprcfented as ferocious monfters and cannibals^ 
among whom I {hould foon be infallibly de- 
ftroyed. But, flattering myfelf that I knew 
man in a ftate of nature better than thefe fine 
talkers, whofe fuperficial knowledge had been 
derived from books deftitute of truth, I had 
no dread of the danger that was announced 
to me. I have had opportunities of ftudying 
human nature in its uncivilized flate ; every 
"where It has appeared to me to be good ; every 
where I have feen it alfo, when not irritated 
and treated with injuftice, to be hofpitable and 
friendly ; and I here affirm, from the conyidion 
of my heartj that in thofe pretended barbarous 
countries, where the whites have not yet 
rendered themfelves odious, becaufe they have 
never been there, it would have been fufficient 
for me to hold out my hand in token of friend- 
ihip, to make the Africans prefs it with affec- 
tion in theirs, and receive me as their brother. 
Jf I wiihed to obtain any fervices from them, 
or to barter with them, I had in my brandy, my 
toys, and my tobacco, very advantageous means 
pf commerce. What black is there who would 
not, 
