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he doctrine of the immortality of the soul has a prodigious effect on mankind； because the idea of only a simple change of habitation is more within the reach of the human understanding； and more adapted to flatter the heart； than the idea of a new modification。
It is not enough for religion to establish a doctrine； it must also direct its influence。 This the Christian religion performs in the most admirable manner； particularly with regard to the doctrines of which we have been speaking。 It makes us hope for a state which is the object of our belief； not for a state which we have already experienced or known： thus every article； even the resurrection of the body； leads us to spiritual ideas。
20。 The same Subject continued。 The sacred books＇29＇ of the ancient Persians say； 〃If you would be holy instruct your children； because all the good actions which they perform will be imputed to you。〃 They advise them to marry betimes； because children at the day of judgment will be as a bridge； over which those who have none cannot pass。 These doctrines were false； but extremely useful。
21。 Of the Metempsychosis。 The doctrine of the immortality of the soul is divided into three branches that of pure immortality； that of a simple change of habitation； and that of a metempsychosis； that is； the system of the Christians； that of the Scythians； and that of the Indians。 We have just been speaking of the first two； and I shall say of the last that as it has been well or ill explained； it has had good or bad effects。 As it inspires men with a certain horror against bloodshed； very few murders are committed in the Indies； and though they seldom punish with death； yet they enjoy a perfect tranquillity。
On the other hand； women burn themselves at the death of their husbands； thus it is only the innocent who suffer a violent death。
22。 That it is dangerous for Religion to inspire an Aversion for Things in themselves indifferent。 A kind of honour established in the Indies by the prejudices of religion has made the several tribes conceive an aversion against each other。 This honour is founded entirely on religion； these family distinctions form no civil distinctions； there are Indians who would think themselves dishonoured by eating with their king。
These sorts of distinctions are connected with a certain aversion for other men； very different from those sentiments which naturally arise from difference of rank； which among us comprehends a love for inferiors。
The laws of religion should never inspire an aversion to anything but vice； and above all they should never estrange man from a love and tenderness for his own species。
The Mahometan and Indian religions embrace an infinite number of people； the Indians hate the Mahometans； because they eat cows； the Mahometans detest the Indians because they eat hogs。
23。 Of Festivals。 When religion appoints a cessation from labour it ought to have a greater regard to the necessities of mankind than to the grandeur of the being it designs to honour。
Athens was subject to great inconveniences from the excessive number of its festivals。＇30＇ These powerful people； to whose decision all the cities of Greece came to submit their quarrels； could not have time to despatch such a multiplicity of affairs。
When Constantine ordained that the people should rest on the Sabbath； he made this decree for the cities；＇31＇ and not for the inhabitants of the open country； he was sensible that labour in the cities was useful； but in the fields necessary。
For the same reason； in a country supported by commerce； the number of festivals ought to be relative to this very commerce。 Protestant and Catholic countries are situated in such a manner that there is more need of labour in the former than in the latter；＇32＇ the suppression of festivals is therefore more suitable to Protestant than to Catholic countries。
Dampier observes that the diversions of different nations vary greatly； according to the climate。＇33＇ As hot climates produce a quantity of delicate fruits； the barbarians easily find necessaries； and therefore spend much time in diversions。 The Indians of colder countries have not so much leisure； being obliged to fish and hunt continually； hence they have less music； dancing and festivals。 If a new religion should be established among these people； it ought to have regard to this in the institution of festivals。
24。 Of the local Laws of Religion。 There are many local laws in various religions； and when Montezuma with so much obstinacy insisted that the religion of the Spaniards was good for their country； and his for Mexico； he did not assert an absurdity； because； in fact； legislators could never help having a regard to what nature had established before them。
The opinion of the metempsychosis is adapted to the climate of the Indies。 An excessive heat burns up all the country：＇34＇ they can breed but very few cattle； they are always in danger of wanting them for tillage； their black cattle multiply but indifferently；＇35＇ and they are subject to many distempers。 A law of religion which preserves them is therefore more suitable to the policy of the country。
While the meadows are scorched； rice and pulse； by the assistance of water； are brought to perfection； a law of religion which permits only this kind of nourishment must therefore be extremely useful to men in those climates。
The flesh of cattle in that country is insipid36 but the milk and butter which they receive from them serve for a part of their subsistence； therefore the law which prohibits the eating and killing of cows is in the Indies not unreasonable。
Athens contained a prodigious multitude of people； but its territory was barren。 It was therefore a religious maxim with this people that those who offered some small presents to the gods honoured them more than those who sacrificed an ox。＇37＇
25。 The Inconvenience of transplanting a Religion from one Country to another。 It follows hence that there are frequently many inconveniences attending the transplanting a religion from one country to any other。
〃The hog；〃 says M。 de Boulainvilliers；＇38＇ 〃must be very scarce in Arabia； where there are almost no woods； and hardly anything fit for the nourishment of these animals； besides； the saltness of the water and food renders the people most susceptible of cutaneous disorders。〃 This local law could not be good in other countries；＇39＇ where the hog is almost a universal； and in some sort a necessary； nourishment。
I shall here make a reflection。 Sanctorius has observed that pork transpires but little；＇40＇ and that this kind of meat greatly binders the transpiration of other food； he has found that this diminution amounts to a third。＇41＇ Besides； it is known that the want of transpiration forms or increases the disorders of the skin。 The feeding on pork ought rather to be prohibited in climates where the people are subject to these disorders； as in Palestine； Arabia； Egypt； and Libya。
26。 The same Subject continued。 Sir John Chardin says＇42＇ that there is not a navigable river in Persia； except the Kur； which is at the extremity of the empire。 The ancient law of the Gaurs which prohibited sailing on rivers was not th