AFRICA. t59 
the inadlve life and habitual idlenefs of the 
inhabitants. Neither cards nor dice are any 
where feen ; their fole amufement is the chace ; 
and this, in g^neral^ they purfue with indo- 
lence, unlcfs they have, as fpedators and com- 
panions, ftrangers who are keener fportfmen 
than themfelves. 
I was, therefore, treated with the chace. All 
the {hooters of the neighbourhood were invited, 
and for feveral days together we ranfacked the 
whole country around. Slaber's daughters, 
in the mean time, were not unmindful of their 
gueft ; and never, even at the court of Alci- 
nous, was a ftranger the objedl of greater 
affiduity or more afFedionate care. They ex- 
erted their fkill in paftry, and prepared for me 
cakes, bifcuits, and confedionary, to add to 
my ftock of provifions : delicate morfels, which 
1 ought to have referved for moments of fa- 
mine, but which, after the manner of children, 
I was impatient to devour and fhare with my 
people. 
Thefe hunting excurfions prepared me for 
fatigues of a longer duration, and I imagined 
myfelf already engaged in them. I had not 
negleded to arrange my caravan. To accuftom 
it 
