. Travels and adventures in southern Africa. liecup, like the blessed bear of Bradwardine, too often drowns both reasonand refinement, yet we, who have ourselves been so recently reclaimed fromthe remains of the old German taste for gross debauchery, have httle rightto view these remote colonists, on that account, as brutal barbarians. Toevince, however, that I have no intention of cloaking their faults, or con-cealing their worst excesses, but rather, by their exposure, to shame themout of them, I shall mention another scene of riotous merriment which Imyself witnessed. On my return from the
. Travels and adventures in southern Africa. liecup, like the blessed bear of Bradwardine, too often drowns both reasonand refinement, yet we, who have ourselves been so recently reclaimed fromthe remains of the old German taste for gross debauchery, have httle rightto view these remote colonists, on that account, as brutal barbarians. Toevince, however, that I have no intention of cloaking their faults, or con-cealing their worst excesses, but rather, by their exposure, to shame themout of them, I shall mention another scene of riotous merriment which Imyself witnessed. On my return from the Cango, in 1822, I arrived at the house ofa rich corn and wine boor, not 100 miles from Cape Town, who hadbeen recently married, and who, in honour of the happy occasion, hadthat day given a grand ball and entertainment to a numerous party ofhis friends and neighbours. It was evening when I reached the house;and being known to the host, and travelling in company, indeed, withone of his neighbours, I was most hospitably welcomed. The WEDDING PARTY. 317 which had commenced before our arrival, was continued till past mid-night, and the female part of the company conducted themselves withgreat propriety and decorum; but the gentlemen had evideutly been in-dulging far too freely in the bottle, and were much more noisy and riotous,than pleasant or entertaining. About one oclock in the morning the com-pany sat down to a splendid and luxurious supper; after which the wineagain circulated profusely among the male guests, and those who were dis-posed to sobriety were absolutely compelled to drink by the more boisterousof the party, who also began to play off rude practical jokes, such as explodingsquibs and crackers among the dancers, &c. Wearied out by a long ridethe preceding day, and with a surfeit of this rough horse play, I stole off,with one or two of my fellow-travellers, about five oclock in the morning,and took refuge in an outhouse, in hopes of there getting a little r
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