north america-1-第23章
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uildings； stated that the design of this wing was capable of elongation； and had been expressly prepared with that object。 If this be so； I trust that the defect will be remedied。 The great trade of Canada is lumbering； and lumbering consists in cutting down pine…trees up in the far distant forests； in hewing or sawing them into shape for market； and getting them down the rivers to Quebec； from whence they are exported to Europe； and chiefly to England。 Timber in Canada is called lumber； those engaged in the trade are called lumberers； and the business itself is called lumbering。 After a lapse of time it must no doubt become monotonous to those engaged in it； and the name is not engaging； but there is much about it that is very picturesque。 A saw…mill worked by water power is almost always a pretty object； and stacks of new…cut timber are pleasant to the smell； and group themselves not amiss on the water's edge。 If I had the time； and were a year or two younger； I should love well to go up lumbering into the woods。 The men for this purpose are hired in the fall of the year； and are sent up hundreds of miles away to the pine forests in strong gangs。 Everything is there found for them。 They make log huts for their shelter； and food of the best and the strongest is taken up for their diet。 But no strong drink of any kind is allowed； nor is any within reach of the men。 There are no publics； no shebeen houses； no grog…shops。 Sobriety is an enforced virtue； and so much is this considered by the masters； and understood by the men； that very little contraband work is done in the way of taking up spirits to these settlements。 It may be said that the work up in the forests is done with the assistance of no stronger drink than tea； and it is very hard work。 There cannot be much work that is harder； and it is done amid the snows and forests of a Canadian winter。 A convict in Bermuda cannot get through his daily eight hours of light labor without an allowance of rum； but a Canadian lumberer can manage to do his daily task on tea without milk。 These men； however； are by no means teetotalers。 When they come back to the towns they break out； and reward themselves for their long…enforced moderation。 The wages I found to be very various； running from thirteen or fourteen dollars a month to twenty…eight or thirty； according to the nature of the work。 The men who cut down the trees receive more than those who hew them when down； and these again more than the under class who make the roads and clear the ground。 These money wages； however； are in addition to their diet。 The operation requiring the most skill is that of marking the trees for the axe。 The largest only are worth cutting； and form and soundness must also be considered。 But if I were about to visit a party of lumberers in the forest； I should not be disposed to pass a whole winter with them。 Even of a very good thing one may have too much； I would go up in the spring； when the rafts are being formed in the small tributary streams； and I would come down upon one of them； shooting the rapids of the rivers as soon as the first freshets had left the way open。 A freshet in the rivers is the rush of waters occasioned by melting snow and ice。 The first freshets take down the winter waters of the nearer lakes and rivers。 Then the streams become for a time navigable； and the rafts go down。 After that comes the second freshet； occasioned by the melting of far…off snow and ice up in the great northern lakes； which are little known。 These rafts are of immense construction； such as those which we have seen on the Rhone and Rhine； and often contain timber to the value of two； three； and four thousand pounds。 At the rapids the large rafts are； as it were； unyoked； and divided into small portions； which go down separately。 The excitement and motion of such transit must； I should say； be very joyous。 I was told that the Prince of Wales desired to go down a rapid on a raft； but that the men in charge would not undertake to say that there was no possible danger； whereupon those who accompanied the prince requested his Royal Highness to forbear。 I fear that； in these careful days； crowned heads and their heirs must often find themselves in the position of Sancho at the banquet。 The sailor prince； who came after his brother； was allowed to go down a rapid； and got； as I was told； rather a rough bump as he did so。 Ottawa is a great place for these timber rafts。 Indeed； it may； I think； be called the headquarters of timber for the world。 Nearly all the best pine…wood comes down the Ottawa and its tributaries。 The other rivers by which timber is brought down to the St。 Lawrence are chiefly the St。 Maurice； the Madawaska； and the Saguenay； but the Ottawa and its tributaries water 75；000 square miles； whereas the other three rivers； with their tributaries； water only 53；000。 The timber from the Ottawa and St。 Maurice finds its way down the St。 Lawrence to Quebec； where； however； it loses the whole of its picturesque character。 The Saguenay and the Madawaska fall into the St。 Lawrence below Quebec。 From Ottawa we went by rail to Prescott； which is surely one of the most wretched little places to be found in any country。 Immediately opposite to it； on the other side of the St。 Lawrence； is the thriving town of Ogdensburg。 But Ogdensburg is in the United States。 Had we been able to learn at Ottawa any facts as to the hours of the river steamers and railways； we might have saved time and have avoided Prescott； but this was out of the question。 Had I asked the exact hour at which I might reach Calcutta by the quickest route； an accurate reply would not have been more out of the question。 I was much struck； at Prescottand； indeed； all through Canada； though more in the upper than in the lower provinceby the sturdy roughness； some would call it insolence； of those of the lower classes of the people with whom I was brought into contact。 If the words 〃lower classes〃 give offense to any reader； I beg to apologizeto apologize； and to assert that I am one of the last of men to apply such a term in a sense of reproach to those who earn their bread by the labor of their hands。 But it is hard to find terms which will be understood； and that term； whether it give offense or no； will be understood。 Of course such a complaint as that I now make is very common as made against the States。 （Men in the States； with horned hands and fustian coats； are very often most unnecessarily insolent in asserting their independence。 What I now mean to say is that precisely the same fault is to be found in Canada。 I know well what the men mean when they offend in this manner。 And when I think on the subject with deliberation at my own desk； I can not only excuse； but almost approve them。 But when one personally encounters this corduroy braggadocio； when the man to whose services one is entitled answers one with determined insolence； when one is bidden to follow 〃that young lady；〃 meaning the chambermaid； or desired； with a toss of the head； to wait for the 〃gentleman who is coming；〃 meaning the boots； the heart is sickened； and the English traveler pines for the civilityfor the servility； if my American friends choose to call it soof a well…ordered servant。 But the whole scene is easily construed； and turned into English。 A man is asked by a stranger some question about his employment； and he replies in a tone which seems to imply anger； insolence； and a dishonest intention to evade the service for which he is paid。 Or； if there be no question of service or payment； the man's manner will be the same； and the stranger feels that he is slapped in the face and insulted。 The translation of it is this： The man questioned； who is aware that as regards coat； hat； boots； and outward cleanliness he is below him by whom he is questioned； unconsciously feels himself called upon to assert his political equality。 It is his shibboleth that he is politically equal to the best； that he is independent； and that his labor； though it earn him but a dollar a day by porterage； places him as a citizen on an equal rank with the most wealthy fellow…man that may employ or accost him。 But； being so inferior in that coat； hat； a
