32 TRAVELS IN 
deprive any one of a fhare in this party of 
pleafure which chance alone had formed, I 
did not attempt to interrupt them. 
One of the fureft means of preferving over 
favages that fuperiority which the prefump* 
tuous European haughtily affumes, is not, 
as is commonly believed, to intimidate them^ 
and to employ threats aftid terror. This ri- 
diculous plan muft have been invented only 
by a rafh fool, or a daflardly commander at 
the head of a numerous arm.y, who took 
advantage of his force to impofe defpotic 
and fevere laws. An inftance to be found 
in fome late voyages, is an evident proof that 
it is not by impetuofity, and the drawn 
Iword, that mankind are to be civilized. The 
tragical end of a late enterprifing navigator 
ought ever to be a ftriking leflbn to thofe 
w^ho may adopt fuch fatal maxims I am 
convinced that one fhould never venture to 
alk from people in a ftate of nature, what 
would cofi: them too great a facrifice to give; 
that it is prudent to lofe a little in order to 
gain more ; that it is only by complacency 
that one can infinuate onefelf into their fa- 
vour ; and that the principal method of fuc- 
* The author here Teems to allude to the death of our 
unfortunate and ever-to-be-lamented captain Cook. T. 
ceeding 
