A F R I e A. 1^7 
at firft took for Bafters^', or Hottentot mulat- 
tos and meftees, and true Hottentots. The 
■father and mother perceived my miftake, 
and, aihamed of having children fo much ne- 
gledled about them, were eager to point out 
to me theirs. It was necelTary to have the 
eye of a parent to diftinguifh them ; for fome 
were quite naked, and others, covered with 
tattered fheep-fkins, begrimed with filth. The 
cldeft daughter, who had drefTed herfelf with 
care, came to accoft me in her moft fplen- 
did attire, having equipped herfelf in the moft 
whimfical head-drefs I ever beheld : it was a 
fort of cap compofed entirely of black oftrich 
feathersj and which, overfhadowing the fore- 
head, gave her the appearance of a great doll. 
I paid her fome compliments on her tafte, at 
which llie afFeded to be out of countenance ; 
but her blufhes foon vanifhed, and £he con- 
cluded this firft intercourfe with offering me a 
large bundle of fuperb white plumes, for which 
I gave her, without ceremony, three rix-dolr 
From the ufe of the word BaJIer in this and other 
places, it would appear as if it was a general appellatbii 
anfwering to perfons ofcokur : but the author has no where 
explained it. T, 
