"ENGLISHMAN'S WORD"
Sir,-In the current issue of The Listener an Australian broadcaster says: "In Buenos Aires when a man wants to assure you he is speaking the truth, he
says ‘Englishman’s word’." Forty-six years ago I had an experience in Colombo which confirms the reputation for probity that the English have got. I was on my way home to England from Coolgardie about Christmas 1894 after a very successful mining career and had a few hours ashore at Colombo. I wanted to take home some of the wonderful handworked tablecloths, and was examining some in the big silk kiosk. It happens that when I am buying anything I don’t like shopwalkers offering suggestions, so when a gorgeously attired Indian came up to me and said "You buy tablecloth, sahib?" I said, "No, I’ve got no money." This was not correct, but merely said to get rid of him, until
I had made my selection, but to my surprise he said: "You no Frenchman?" "No," I replied. "You no German?" he continued. "No." I replied. "You Englishman?" "Yes," I replied. "Very good," said he. "You take what you like. I send them down to the ship and you pay me when you come back." I was so pleased to hear this opinion of an Englishman’s integrity that, before I left that kiosk, the Indian silk merchant had collected more than £80 from me! May we long continue to maintain our reputation!
TRAVELLER
(Pio Pio).
Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/periodicals/NZLIST19401011.2.9.8
Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka
New Zealand Listener, Volume 3, Issue 68, 11 October 1940, Page 16
Word count
Tapeke kupu
243"ENGLISHMAN'S WORD" New Zealand Listener, Volume 3, Issue 68, 11 October 1940, Page 16
Using this item
Te whakamahi i tēnei tūemi
Material in this publication is protected by copyright.
Are Media Limited has granted permission to the National Library of New Zealand Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa to develop and maintain this content online. You can search, browse, print and download for research and personal study only. Permission must be obtained from Are Media Limited for any other use.
Copyright in the work University Entrance by Janet Frame (credited as J.F., 22 March 1946, page 18), is owned by the Janet Frame Literary Trust. The National Library has been granted permission to digitise this article and make it available online as part of this digitised version of the New Zealand Listener. You can search, browse, and print this article for research and personal study only. Permission must be obtained from the Janet Frame Literary Trust for any other use.
Copyright in the Denis Glover serial Hot Water Sailor published in 1959 is owned by Pia Glover. The National Library has been granted permission to digitise this serial and make it available online as part of this digitised version of the Listener. You can search, browse, and print this serial for research and personal study only. Permission must be obtained from Pia Glover for any other use.
Log in