To what cause then are we to
attribute the distance which the accomplishment of it appears at? I
answer, to the fickle, jealous, wavering disposition of the people we
have to deal with, who, like all other savages, are either too indolent,
too indifferent, or too fearful to form an attachment on easy terms,
with those who differ in habits and manners so widely from themselves.
Before I close the subject, I cannot, however, omit to relate the
following ludicrous adventure, which possibly may be of greater use in
effecting what we have so much at heart, than all our endeavours.
Some young gentlemen belonging to the Sirius one day met a native, an
old man, in the woods; he had a beard of considerable length, which his
new acquaintance gave him to understand, by signals, they would rid him
of, if he pleased; stroaking their chins, and shewing him the smoothness
of them at the same time; at length the old Indian consented, and one of
the youngsters taking a penknife from his pocket, and making use of the
best substitute for lather he could find, performed the operation with
great success, and, as it proved, much to the liking of the old man, who
in a few days after reposed a confidence in us, of which we had hitherto
known no example, by paddling along-side the Sirius in his canoe, and
pointing to his beard.
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