But who could
show a cheek like Queequeg? which, barred with various tints,
seemed like the Andes' western slope, to show forth in one array,
contrasting climates, zone by zone.
"Grub, ho!" now cried the landlord, flinging open a door,
and in we went to breakfast.
They say that men who have seen the world, thereby become
quite at ease in manner, quite self-possessed in company.
Not always, though: Ledyard, the great New England traveller,
and Mungo Park, the Scotch one; of all men, they possessed
the least assurance in the parlor. But perhaps the mere
crossing of Siberia in a sledge drawn by dogs as Ledyard did,
or the taking a long solitary walk on an empty stomach, in the negro
heart of Africa, which was the sum of poor Mungo's performances--
this kind of travel, I say, may not be the very best mode
of attaining a high social polish. Still, for the most part,
that sort of thing is to be had anywhere.
These reflections just here are occasioned by the circumstance
that after we were all seated at the table, and I was preparing
to hear some good stories about whaling; to my no small
surprise nearly every man maintained a profound silence.
And not only that, but they looked embarrassed.
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