seemed not to understand ceremony, or to despise it. Upon the
landlord's leaving the room, I could not avoid expressing my
concern to the stranger at seeing a gentleman in such
circumstances, and offered him my purse to satisfy the present
demand. 'I take it with all my heart, Sir,' replied he, 'and am
glad that a late oversight in giving what money I had about me,
has shewn me that there are still some men like you. I must,
however, previously entreat being informed of the name and
residence of my benefactor, in order to repay him as soon as
possible.' In this I satisfied him fully, not only mentioning my
name and late misfortunes, but the place to which I was going to
remove. 'This,' cried he, 'happens still more luckily than I
hoped for, as I am going the same way myself, having been
detained here two days by the floods, which, I hope, by to-morrow
will be found passable.' I testified the pleasure I should have
in his company, and my wife and daughters joining in entreaty, he
was prevailed upon to stay supper. The stranger's conversation,
which was at once pleasing and instructive, induced me to wish
for a continuance of it; but it was now high time to retire and
take refreshment against the fatigues of the following day.

The next morning we all set forward together: my family on
horseback, while Mr Burchell, our new companion, walked along the
foot-path by the road-side, observing, with a smile, that as we
were ill mounted, he would be too generous to attempt leaving us
behind. As the floods were not yet subsided, we were obliged to
hire a guide, who trotted on before, Mr Burchell and I bringing
up the rear. We lightened the fatigues of the road with
philosophical disputes, which he seemed to understand perfectly.
But what surprised me most was, that though he was a money-