“A gang of well-trained men need hardly any directions, especially in cemetery work; and their observations and knowledge should always be listened to, and will often determine matters. The freshman from England is their inferior in everything except in recording; and at least a season's experience is needed before any one can afford to disregard the judgment of a well-trained digger.” (Petrie, Methods and Aims, 1904: 22).
“The better class of these workers are one's personal friends, and are regarded much as old servants are in a good household. Their feelings and self-respect must be thought of, as among our own equals, and they will not put up with any rudeness or contempt. A man with landed property and cattle, and an ancestry of a couple of centuries, can afford to look down on most Englishmen who would bully him.” (Petrie, Methods and Aims, 1904: 22).
I think it is noticeable and very acute the way Petrie consider about his diggers's ability.
ReplyDeleteAdmitting the superiority of a subordinate, especially in his own area of knowledge, is something that not many people are able to do, even facing an evidence.