— so 
3793> the Indian cottiite a ‘taile. , "5 
cat and my dog. LTawait death at the termination of life as a sweet 
sleep at the ciose of day.” ‘ From what book have youdrawn these 
principles?’ said the doctor. ‘ From that-of nature, replied the In- 
dian; I know no other.” ‘ Ah! that is a great book, said the Eng- 
lifhman: but who taught you to read it?? “ Misfortune, replied the 
paria; being of a cast reputed infamous in my own country, unable to 
be an Indian, I have made myself a man; rejected by society, Lhave 
fled for refuge to nature.” ‘ But in your solitude you have at least 
some books?’ replied the doctor. ‘ Not one, said the paria. ’ Ican 
neither read nor write.” ‘ You have sayed yourself the uneasinels of 
many a painful doubt, said the doctor, rubbing his forehead: for my 
part, I have been sent from England, my native country, in search of 
truth among the iearned of many nations, with a view to enlighten 
them, and to render them happier; but after many vain researches, 
and very grave disputes, I concluded that the search for truth is folly, 
because when one has found it, he knows not to whom he can impait it 
without making himself many enemies. Speak to me with sincerity, are 
* not you of my opinion.’ “ Though I am only anilliterate person, replied 
the paria, since you permit me to give my opinion, I fhall give it frank- 
ly; Ithink that every man is obliged to seek the truth, forthe sake of 
his own happinefs; otherwise he will be covetous, ambitious, addicted 
to superstition, wicked, and worthlefs; nay even a cannibal, according 
to the prejudices, or the interest of those with whom he has been 
bred up.” 
The doctor, who was still thinking on the three questions which he 
had proposed to the chief of the pandicts, was charmed witli the pa- 
ria’s answer. -‘ Since you believe, says he tohim, that every man is 
; obliged to seek the truth, tell me what means one ought to use in or- 
er to find it; for our senses deceive us, and our reason bewilders us 
still more. Reason is quite different in different persons; and, I be- 
lieve, it is at bottom only the particular interest of each of them: 
this [take to be the cause why it is so variable in the world. There 
are not two religions, two nations, two tribes, two families; what am 
‘Isaying? there are not two individuals that think exactly alike. With 
what sense ought one then to search for trut ahs if even the understand- 
ing cannot be of service in the-investigation.’ ‘ I believe replied the 
paria, that it is with simplicity of ese, The senses and the judge- 
ment may be beguiled; but a simple, a sincere and honest heart, 
though it may be deceived, never deccives.” 
~ * Your answer is profound, said the doctor. One must search after 
fruth with his heart, not with his understanding. Men all fecl in the 
‘ 
