194 TRAVELS IN 
debauched life fpent at the age of thirty, 
occafioned no difguft to my divine Kaminou- 
quas, in this fweet^nd fraternal communica-. 
tion, 
I can never call to remembrance without 
emotion thefe refped:able people, and feveral 
others, among whom I obferved the fame 
ceremony repeated. When I faw them, on 
their feparating from me, return peaceably 
and cbntented, " Happy mortals faid I ; 
long may you retain your valuable inno- 
" cence, but live in ignorance ! Poor favages, 
" regret not that you were born under a 
fcorching fun, on a dry and parched foil, 
" which fcarcely produces briars and thorns. 
" Confider your prefent fituation rather as 
" a bieffing from Heaven : your defarts will 
" never tempt the avarice of the whites. 
Unite yourfelves to thofe fortunate hordes, 
who like you have not had an opportu- 
nity of knowing them ; deftroy and efface 
" the ieaft traces of that yellow duft which 
" is converted into metal in your caverns and 
rocks — ye are ruined if they difcover it. 
Know that it is the fcourge of the world, 
" the fource of all crimes : and dread, above' 
" all 
