( m ) 



lif<jl However, as they are only affected with the 

 prefent object, the evils which this paflion has oc- 

 cafioned are not yet become habitual-, thefe are 

 ftorms which foon blow over, and whereof the 

 good-nature and tranquillity of mind they are 

 endowed with, take away almoft the very remem- 

 brance. 



It muft be confefTed that their way of life feems 

 at firft glance very rude, but befides that nothing 

 is hard in this refpect but by comparifjn, and 

 that habit is a fecond nature, the liberty they en- 

 joy, compenfates fufficiently the lofs of thofe con- 

 veniencies of which they are deprived. What we 

 fee every day in fome who are beggars by profef- 

 fion, and in fome peafants, furnifhes a fenfible 

 proof, that happinefs may be found even in the 

 bofom of indigence. Now the Indians are ftill 

 more really fo firft, becaufe they believe them- 

 felves fo ; in the fecond place, as being in peaceable 

 pofTeflion of the mod invaluable gift of nature ; 

 laflly, from their being utterly ignorant of, and 

 without fo much as the defire of knowing thofe 

 falfe goods which we fo much admire, which we 

 purchafe at the expence of real ones, and which we 

 fo little enjoy. 



In fact a thing in which they are more eftimable 

 and ought to be looked upon as true philofophers 

 is, that the fight of all our conveniencies, riches, 

 and magnificence affects them fo little, and that 

 they have found out the art of eafily difpenfing 

 with them. Some Iroquois who went to Paris 

 in 1666, and who after being mown all the royal 

 houfes, and all the fine things of that great city, 

 admired nothing in it and would have preferred 

 their villages to the capital of the moil flourifhing 



kingdom 



