154 TRAVELS IN 
I was not a planter, and therefore the regu- 
lation could in no m mner afied me. As a 
ftranger, I was pardonable for not knowing it; 
and befides this privilege of a flranger and a 
traveller, I had, from the governor himfelf, 
particular letters, in which he enjoined all the 
' inhabitants of the colony, not only to avoid 
throwing the leaft impediment in the way 
of my journey, and to allow me a free pafTage 
wherever my curiofity might lead me, but 
alfo to give me, by authority of government, 
every affiftance I might have cccafion for. All 
this I reprefented to the overfeer. I obferved 
to him alfo, that, when my oxen were feized, 
they were in the downs, and confequently be- 
yond the privileged boundaries of the domain. 
In fliort, I complained to him of the uncandid 
manner in which he had behaved towards m.e, 
fmce, inflead of giving me notice when he 
faw me unyoke, he contented himfelf with 
be:ng a filent fpeclatcr, as if highly gratified 
by feeing me fall into an error. 
To thefe remonftrances he made no other 
reply, than that he had a right to confifcate my 
cattle : and in truth the capture would have 
been of fome worth to him. Tired of his 
ini(|uitou& 
