440 TRAVELS IN AFRICA, 
The fyftem of morals contained in the writings of the Orien- 
tals, is at once fublittie without being impradllcable, and levelled 
to the ufe of mankind, without being loofe or low. Yet it is 
ufual with us to talk of their brutal ftupidity ! But this fyftem 
is not pradlifed among them — ^and is the Chriftian fyftem of 
morals pradtifed among Chriftian nations ? 
The Arabian and Perfian hiftories and romances abound with 
traits of magnanimity, of generofity, juftice, and courage, no 
way inferior to, but in fome inftances exceeding thofe of other 
nations. The Greeks and ourfelves have indeed ftigmatifed 
them with the name of barbarians j but impartial inquiry proves 
that they are fufceptible of all that is admired in a poliftied peo- 
ple ; that crimes are treated among them as among other* na- 
tions, and that though their paffions may be exprefled in a 
different way, they have always the fame fource and the fame 
objed:. 
No man who refleds on his paft enjoyments and fufferings 
can doubt but that the latter, by their intenfenefs, duration, and 
frequency, have been decidedly predominant. 
To render them more equal, that is, to be lefs miferable, or to 
make life tolerable, either the number of pleafures muft be aug- 
mented, according to the fyftem of the Epicureans, or that of 
pains muft be diminifhed, according to that of the Stoics. The 
Orientals ftrive to attain the one objed; like ourfelves, by fen- 
fuality ; and here it is not to be conceived that they are hap- 
pier than we are ; but the other they gaiii in a much more 
complete 
