?6 



STUDIES OF NATURE. 



religion of the Bramins * ; in the Hiftory of Bra- 

 ma, or Abraham ; of his wife Sarai, or Sara ; in 

 the incarnations of Wiftnou, or ofChriftnou; in 

 a word, they are difFufed even among the favage 

 tribes which traverfe America. 



I fay nothing of the monuments of our religion,, 

 as univerfally diffufed as her traditions, one of 

 which, inexpUcable on the principles of our Phy- 

 fics, proves a general Deluge, by the wrecks of 

 marine bodies fcattered over the furface of the 

 Globe J the other, irreconcileable to the laws of 

 Gur Politics, attefts the reprobation of the Jews, 

 difperfed over all regions, hated, defpifed, perfe- 

 cuted, without Government, without a Country ; 

 reverthelefs, always numerous, always fubfifting, 

 and always tenacious of their Law. To no pur- 

 pofe have attempts been made to trace refem- 

 blances between their condition, and that of feve- 

 ral other Nations, as the Armenians, the Guebres, 

 and the Banians. But thefe lad-mentioned Na- 

 tions hardly emigrate beyond the confines of Afia: 

 their numbers are extremely inconfiderable : they 

 are neither hated nor perfecuted by other Nations; 

 they have a Country ; and, finally, they have not 

 adhered to the rehgion of their anceftors. Cer- 



* See Abraham Rogers^ his Hiftory of the Manners of the 

 bramins, 



tain 



