under him, and, thus bundled up, suffers himself to be covered round
with snow, except a small hole which he leaves for the convenience of
breathing. In this manner he lies, with his dogs around him, who assist
in keeping him warm, sometimes for several days, till the storm is past,
and the roads again become passable, so that he may be able to pursue
his journey again.
[Illustration: "Frequently in their journeys these travellers are
surprised by unexpected storms of wind and snow, which render it
impracticable to proceed farther." _P. 278._]
_Tommy._--I could not have conceived it possible that men should be able
to struggle with so many hardships. But do not the poor people who
inhabit these cold climates quit them, whenever they can find an
opportunity, and come to settle in those that are warmer?
_Mr Barlow._--Not in the least. When they hear that there are no seals
to be caught in other countries, they say that they must be wretched
indeed, and much inferior to their own. Besides, they have in general
so great a contempt for all Europeans, that they have no inclination to
visit the countries which they inhabit.
_Tommy._--How can that be? How can a parcel of wretched ignorant savages
despise men that are so much superior to themselves?
_Mr Barlow._--This is not what they are quite so well convinced of. The
Greenlanders, for instance, see that the Europeans who visit them are
much inferior to themselves in the art of managing a boat or catching
seals; in short, in everything which they find most useful to support
life. For this reason, they consider them all with very great contempt,
and look upon them as little better than barbarians.
_Tommy._--That is very impertinent indeed; and I should like to convince
them of their folly.
_Mr Barlow._--Why, do not you look upon yourself as much superior to
your black servants; and have I not often heard you express great
contempt for them?
_Tommy._--I do not despise them now, so much as I used to do. Besides,
sir, I only think myself something better, because I have been brought
up like a gentleman.
_Mr Barlow._--A gentleman! I have never exactly understood what a
gentleman is, according to your notions.
_Tommy._--Why, sir, when a person is not brought up to work, and has
several people to wait upon him, like my father and mother, then he is a
gentleman.
_Mr Barlow._--And then he has a right to despise others, has he?
_Tommy._--I do not say that, sir, neither. But he is, however, superior
to them.
_Mr Barlow._--Superior, in what? In the art of cultivating the ground to
raise food, and making clothes or houses?
_Tommy._--No, sir, not that; for gentlemen never plough the ground or
build houses.
_Mr Barlow._--Is he then superior in knowledge? Were you, who have been
brought up a gentleman, superior to all the rest of the world when you
came here?
_Tommy._--To be sure, sir; when I came here I did not know so much as I
do now.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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