FREE BOOKS

Author's List




PREV.   NEXT  
|<   23   24   25   26   27   28   29   30   31   32   33   34   35   36   37   38   39   40   41   42   43   44   45   46   47  
48   49   50   51   52   53   54   55   56   57   58   59   60   61   62   63   64   65   66   67   68   69   70   71   72   >>   >|  
stand why you are so enthusiastic in the science, Mr. Swinton, and I regret much that the short time which will be occupied in the remainder of our voyage will not enable me to profit as I should wish by your conversation; for when we arrive at the Cape, I fear our pursuits will lead us different ways." "I presume they will, for I am about to penetrate as far as possible into the interior of the country," replied Mr. Swinton, "which of course is not your intention." "Indeed, but it is," replied Alexander; "I am about to do the same, although perhaps not in the same direction. May I ask your intended route, if not too inquisitive?" "Not at all; I can hardly say myself. I shall be guided by the protection I may fall in with. Africa is a wide field for science, and I can hardly go any where without being well rewarded for my journey; and I will say, that should it meet both our views, I should be very glad if we were to travel in company." Mr. Fairburn, who had come on deck, had been standing close to them at the latter portion of the conversation, and made the observation-- "I think it would be a very good plan if Mr. Swinton would venture to go where you are bound, Mr. Wilmot, but you can talk of that another day, when you have been longer together. There is nothing that requires more deliberation than the choice of a traveling companion; any serious imperfection of temper may make a journey very miserable. Now, Wilmot, if you are tired of natural history, and wish to change it for the painful history of human nature, I am ready to continue my observations." "With great pleasure, sir." "I hope you have no objection to my reaping the benefit also?" said Mr. Swinton. "Oh, most certainly not," replied Mr. Fairburn, "although I fear you will not gain much information, as you have been at the Cape before. In a former conversation with Mr. Wilmot I have pointed out the manner in which the Cape was first settled, and how the settlers had gradually reduced the original possessors of the land to a state of serfdom; I will now continue. "The Dutch boors, as they increased their wealth in cattle, required more pasture, and were now occupying the whole of the land south of the Caffre country: the Caffres are wild, courageous savages, whose wealth consists chiefly in cattle, but in some points they may be considered superior to the Hottentots. "The weapon of the Hottentot may be said to be the bow and arrow, bu
PREV.   NEXT  
|<   23   24   25   26   27   28   29   30   31   32   33   34   35   36   37   38   39   40   41   42   43   44   45   46   47  
48   49   50   51   52   53   54   55   56   57   58   59   60   61   62   63   64   65   66   67   68   69   70   71   72   >>   >|  



Top keywords:

Swinton

 

conversation

 

replied

 

Wilmot

 
journey
 

continue

 

Fairburn

 

history

 

country

 

science


wealth

 

cattle

 

pleasure

 
points
 
superior
 
benefit
 

considered

 

objection

 

Hottentots

 

reaping


weapon

 

temper

 

miserable

 
imperfection
 

traveling

 

companion

 
nature
 
painful
 

change

 
natural

Hottentot
 

observations

 
Caffre
 

serfdom

 
possessors
 

original

 

gradually

 
reduced
 

Caffres

 

choice


increased

 
required
 

pasture

 

occupying

 
settlers
 

information

 

chiefly

 

consists

 
pointed
 

settled