14^ TRAVELS 
tentlon may be difcerned by the naked cf Cy 
when the furface is faiooth. I tried the qua- 
lities of this oil on rnyfelf, taking with a ftraw, 
from the furface of the bafm, a fingle drop, 
which I put upon my tongue ; and it gave me 
that kind of burning pain which a cauftic oc- 
eafions. I then took up fome water from the 
refervoir in the hollow of my hand, and blow- 
ing off the oily fluid whieh fwam en the fur- 
face, I dipped the end of my tongue into the 
remainder, but could not perceive in it the 
flightefl tafte different from that of water it- 
felf. 
Bold, however, as my experiment was, I 
dared not carry my temerity fo far as to fwal- 
low any of this watef : but I offered it to Kees, 
the acutenefs of whofe fmell could have in- 
formed me with certainty if there were any 
clanger. He fnuffed at it, and immediately 
left it. This trial not completely fatlsfylng. 
me, and defirous, ifpoffible, to deceive the ex- 
quifite fmell of my ape, I fqueezed fome juice 
of euphorbia into fome milk, and gave it him 
to drink. He would have been caught thi& 
time ; for he not only taftcd the milk without 
expreffmg the leaft difgufl:^. but was proceed- 
ing 
