196 TRAVELS IN 
and that they never give themfelves the 
trouble to fearch for water, when it is not 
clofe at hand. 
This method, which they pradifed before 
my eyes, w^as not very delicate. They took 
care every evening to bring me a bafket full of 
milk, which my people and Kees, much lefs 
difficult than their mafter, gladly accepted. 
I, however, carefully avoided to fhew before 
my neighbours the invincible difguft which 
their daily prefents gave me; and I would 
rather have been poifoned for a few mo- 
ments than have diftrefled or mortified them 
by a refufal ; for it has always been , my 
maxim, in all the places through which I 
paffed, never to oppofe received cuftoms. 
Nothing offends or irritates a people fo much 
as to attack, by fatire and ridicule, their opi- 
nions, their tafte, and their ufages ; and, in- 
deed, nothing is more abfurd and indecent. I 
am forry that I have this accufation to make 
againft the moft focial and the moft amiable 
of nations j and to fee them in this refpedl 
an objecl of reproach even to their neareft 
neighbours.' Can it ap} ear ftrange that one 
does not ohfcrve at London, the air, the man- 
ners, and the politenefs, of tlie agreeable cox- 
comb 
