AFRICA. 153 
©at with patient atteation, exerted themfelves 
to underfland me, and when they had guefled 
my meaning, not only feemed to feel pleafure 
from the circumftance, but, taking up my 
thoughts, were at the pains to inftrudt me what 
I ought to have faid. prom this benevolence 
of difpofition^ and readinefs to oblige, I could 
not but be lurprifed to find oppofite inclinations 
in the children of the chief, put they were 
really children ; and thence I concluded, that 
their laugh reiulted from that little maliciouC- 
nefs which is common to their age ; and this 
I am ftill inclined to believe, for I have never 
feen a Nimiqua laugh, in fimilar circum- 
ftances, at my awkward manner pf exprefl- 
Jng myfelf. 
I (hall not flop here to relate the manners 
and cuftoms of this horde of lefs Nimiquas, as 
they differed very little from thofe of the 
neighbouring hordes, of which I fhall foon 
|iave occafion to fpeak. In their drefs they 
jnuch refembled the Hottentots on the eafteru 
coaft, the variations being too flight to merit 
notice. An intelligent traveller, who has many 
fimilar people to defcribe, muft exhibit them 
%^ ^ whole, if he would render his work in- 
terefting 
