#793. the Indian cottage, a tale. 185 
corner, the paria’s wife suckling her child. She had served up the 
breakfast. After a silent repast, the doctor was about to take his 
leave : the Indian says to him ‘“* My guest, the plains are as yet over~ 
flowed with yesterdays rain; the roads are impafsible. Spend this 
day with us.” ‘ I cannot, answered the doctor, my attendants are too 
numerous.’ “ Isee, replied the paria, you are in haste to leave the 
country of the brahmins, to return to that of the Christians, whose re- 
ligion makes all men live as brethren.” The doctor rose with a 
sigh. Then the paria made a sign to his wife, who with downcast 
eyes, and without uttering a word, presented to the doctor a bafket 
of flowers and fruits. The paria in her name says to the Englifhman, 
**Sir, excuse our poverty, we have neither ambergris, nor wood of aloes 
. to perfume our guest, according to the custom of India. We have 
only flowers and fruits ; but I hope you will not contemn this little 
bafket filled by the hands of my wife. There are neither poppies nor 
marygolds ; but jefsamins, mougris, bergamots, by their duration, sym- 
bois of our love, the recollection of which we will cherifh when we fhall 
See you no more.” The doctor took the bafket, and said to the paria, ‘I 
cannot be too grateful for your hospitality, and I cannot expreis in a suit- 
able manner the esteem I have for you: accept this gold watch ; it was 
made by the most,famous watch maker in London; itneeds to be wound 
up only once a year.’ The paria replied, ‘‘ We have not the least occa- 
sion for a watch. We have one that goes continually, and is never 
out of order; itis the sun.” ‘ My watch strikes the hours, added the 
doctor.’ “ The birds chaunt them, replied the paria.” ‘ At least, re- 
plied the doctor, accept these coral beads to make red necklaces for 
your wife and child.’ “ My wife and my child fhall never want red 
necklaces, replied the paria, so long as my garden fhall produce Ango- 
la peas.”* ‘ Take then these pistols to defend yourself from robbers 
in this your solitary retreat.’ “ Poverty, says the paria, is a rampart 
which keeps robbers at a distance; the silver ornaments with which your 
arms are decorated would serve to attract robbers. In the name ot God 
who protects us, and from whom we expect our reward, do not rob us _ 
of the price oi cur hospitality.”” *‘ Meanwhile, replied the Enghihman, I 
would wifhthat you would retain some memorial of me.’ “ Well; replied 
the paria, since you with it, I will venture to propose an exchange ; 
give me your pipe, and take you mine; whenI fhall smoke with 
your’s, I thall remember that an European pandect has not disdained 
to accept the hospitality of a poor paria.”” Instantly the doctor gave 
him his Englith leather pipe, whose head was of yellow amber, and 
VOL, xvii. AA + 
