35^ TRAVELSIN 
been faid of it at the Cape. How many tales 
had I not heard of this nation ! what won- 
derful things concerning its manners, its arts, 
its treafures, &c. ! The reader knows already 
what to think of its pretended mines of gold 
and filver : and the tales of its arts and its laws 
are on a par with thofe of its mines. 
Kolben is the man who has ftamped autho^ 
ritv on all thefe fables. Even I, having no 
idea refpecling thefe dlftant and unknown 
people, gave fome credit to the dreams of this 
writer. In confequence, as I penetrated into 
the interior of Africa, and vifited the Hotten- 
tots, I every where fought the traces of that 
fiourifliing agriculture, " which they under- 
" ftand incomparably better than the Europe- 
ans of the Cape, vv^ho frequently apply to 
" them for advice on the fubjed.'' I was de- 
firous of feeing fome of thofe folemn marriage 
ceremonies, which a prieft performs, and which 
he legitim.ates by fprinkling the newly united 
couple with his urine. I wiftied to vifit the 
public prifons of thefe people, and be prefent 
at the fittings of their tribunals, and the decrees 
of their fovereign counciL Perhaps I had de- 
flroyed monfters enough in Africa to afpire to 
the 
