AFRICA; zoi 
I occupied myfelf, during the repaft. In ha- 
rafling with queftions the mafter of the houfe* 
As for Swanepoel, his eyes were employed in 
attentively furveying the central and fmoking 
pyramid ; but incapable of enjoying any longer 
the gratification of eating, he could devour it 
only in imagination, and was almoft choked 
with fatiety and regret. I can compare this 
extravagant repaft, worthy of the heroes of 
Homer, to nothing better than to thofe fide- 
boards which were feen, formerly, at certain 
periods of our feftivals, and which, bending 
under a multitude of all kinds of poultry, 
feemed expofed on purpofe to regale a famifhed 
people. 
As I had already put many queftions to my 
hoft during our excurfion to the top of the 
Piquet mountain, I converfcd with him at 
dinner on his pofleffions and orchards. Tired 
of fitting, I contrived to exprefs myfelf in fuch 
terms refpefling his fingular mode of life, as 
to make him at length think of leaving the 
table. He had no difficulty in juftlfying the 
good opinion I had conceived of his adivity 
^nd intelligence. We walked over all his 
grounds, in which I every where faw well cul- 
tivated 
