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call great. The European, with an inherent servility, fell on his knees, and by his interpreter, addressed his savage majesty to the following effect. "Most powerful chief, who holdest in thy hands the destinies of the four corners of the earth, the fame of thy valour has encircled both hemispheres! Accept the homage of the white man, who has come from the other side of the great water to behold the Little Toad Eater!"[1] Neither the chief nor his companions smiled; that might have discomposed the white man. Neither did the chief know how to reply: but suspecting from his posture, that he was quite exhausted, with true civility he asked him, If he wished for any thing to eat! The interpreter replied. They had just eaten and drunk abundantly. This perplexed the chief and his companions, who wondered why the white man preferred to continue on his knees. At length the white man, thinking it a great breach of politeness to be left in such a situation, asked, "How long he should continue on his knees?" The chief replied, "As long as he pleased."—This was natural: the child of nature being ignorant of the reason of his placing himself on his knees, knew no reason why at any particular time he should rise.
Not a little of the national character may be discovered at the courts of law. The examination of
- ↑ The name of the chief.
