he Jones's,
the Wilkins's, and the Halhed's, etc. As to the sacred books of the
Hindoos, all that are yet in our hands are the Bhagvat Geeta, the
Ezour-Vedam, the Bagavadam, and certain fragments of the Chastres
printed at the end of the Bhagvat Geeta. These books are in Indostan
what the Old and New Testament are in Christendom, the Koran in Turkey,
the Zadder and the Zendavesta among the Parses, etc. When I have taken
an extensive survey of their contents, I have sometimes asked myself,
what would be the loss to the human race if a new Omar condemned them
to the flames; and, unable to discover any mischief that would ensue, I
call the imaginary chest that contains them, the box of Pandora.

The Bramins stopping short at these words: "How can we admit your
doctrine," said the legislator, "if you will not make it known? And how
did its first authors propagate it, when, being alone possessed of it,
their own people were to them profane? Did heaven reveal it to be kept a
secret?"*

* The Vedas or Vedams are the sacred volumes of the Hindoos,
as the Bibles with us. They are three in number; the Rick
Veda, the Yadjour Veda, and the Sama Veda; they are so
scarce in India, that the English could with great
difficulty find an original one, of which a copy is
deposited in the British Museum; they who reckon four Vedas,
include among them the Attar Veda, concerning ceremonies,
but which is lost. There are besides commentaries named
Upanishada, one of which was published by Anquetil du Peron,
and entitled Oupnekhat, a curious work. The date of these
books is more than twenty-five centuries prior to our era;
their contents prove that all the reveries of the Greek
metaphysicians come from India and Egypt. Since the year
1788, the learned men of England are working in India a mine
of literature totally unknown in Europe, and which proves
that the civilization of India ascends to a very remote
antiquity. After the Vedas come the Chastras amounting to
six. They treat of theology and the Sciences. Afterwards
eighteen Pouranas, treating of Mythology and History. See
the Bahgouet-guita, the Baga Vadam, and the Ezour-Vedam,
etc.

But the Bramins persisting in their silence: "Let them have the honor of
the secret," said a European: "Their doctrine is now divulged; we have
their books, and I can give you the substance of the