AFRICA. 23 
friend Colonel Gordon, and that I, like him, 
was an inquifitlve travellerj defirous of feeing 
the country. 
The name of Gordon diffipated every fear. 
Prefently I perceived my ambaffador return- 
ing with a well-looking mulatto, by the fide of 
whom was another, lower in ftature, and lefs 
dignified in appearance. The former was Klaas 
Bafter, the name of the latter was Piet. They 
were brothers. They accofled me with frank- 
iiefs, and took me by the hand in the Dutch 
mode ; for they had acquired the manners of 
the Dutch, as v^^ell as their language, which 
they fpoke extremely well. I delivered to 
them the Colonel's letter: but here their 
fclence was at a ftand ; neither of them could 
read j and the letter was returned to me, as 
foon as received. 
The Colonel had defired them to do every 
thing for me, that might be in their power ; 
but as he could not forefee the diftrefs to which 
I fhould be reduced, he had of courfe not been 
.able to fpecify the kind of fervice I ihould need. 
Ic was very eafy,however, for rne to fupply what 
was wanting in the letter; and accordingly v^ith 
my eyes fixed on the paper, I read to them a 
•C 4 ' long 
