The Spirits' Book among the savages.

We knew that The Spirits' Book has sympathetic readers in every part of the world, but we certainly would not have suspected finding it among the savages of South America, were it not for a letter that had been sent to us from Lima, a few months ago, whose full translation we deem it well to make public, in view of the significant fact it contains, its import being easily understood. It carries its own commentary with it, to which we shall add no reflection.

“Most Excellent Sir Allan Kardec, “Forgive me for not writing to you in French; I understand that language by reading, but I am not able to write it correctly and intelligibly.

“For more than ten years I have frequented the aboriginal peoples who inhabit the eastern slope of the Andes, in these American regions on the borders of Peru. Your The Spirits' Book, which I acquired on a journey to Lima, accompanies me in these solitudes. To tell you that I read it avidly and that I continually reread it should not surprise you. Thus, I would not come to trouble you over so little were it not for certain information that may interest you, or the desire to obtain some advice that I hope for from your kindness, for I do not doubt that your human sentiments are in accord with the sublime principles of your book. “These peoples whom we call savages are so less than is generally thought. If by this we mean that they dwell in huts instead of palaces; that they do not know our arts and sciences; that they are ignorant of the etiquette of civilized people, they are indeed true savages. But with respect to intelligence, we find in them ideas of a surprising accuracy, a great finesse of observation, and noble and elevated sentiments. They understand with great ease and have a spirit incomparably less coarse than the peasants of Europe. They despise what seems to them useless, in relation to the simplicity that suffices them for the kind of life they lead. The tradition of their ancient independence is ever alive among them, which is why they have an insurmountable aversion to their conquerors; but, if they hate the race in general, they attach themselves to the individuals who inspire in them an absolute confidence. It is on account of this confidence that I enjoy their intimacy and, when I find myself in their midst, I feel in greater safety than in many a metropolis. They grow sad when I leave them and make me promise to return. When I return, the whole tribe is in celebration. “These explanations were necessary for what is to follow.

“I told you that I had The Spirits' Book with me. One day I dared to translate some passages and I was quite surprised to see that they understood it much better than I had thought, considering certain very judicious observations they made. Here is an example:

“The idea of living again on Earth seems to them perfectly natural. One day one of them asked us: When we die, may we be reborn among the whites? — Certainly, I replied. — Then you would be, perhaps, one of our kinsmen? — It is possible. — No doubt it is for this reason that you are good and that we love you? — That too is possible. Then, when we meet a white man we must not do him harm, because perhaps he is one of our brothers.

“Like me, Sir, you certainly marvel at this conclusion of a savage, as well as at the sentiment of fraternity it awakened in him. Moreover, the idea of Spirits is not new to them; it is in their beliefs and they are persuaded that it is possible to converse with deceased relatives who come to visit them. The important point in all this is to take advantage of it to make them more moral, and I do not believe this to be impossible, since they do not yet have the vices of our civilization. It is here that I would need your advice and your experience. In my view, one labors in error when one imagines that we can only influence ignorant creatures by speaking to their senses. I think, on the contrary, that this would be to maintain them in those narrow ideas and to develop in them the inclination to superstition. I believe that reasoning, when we know how to place it within reach of intelligences, will always have a more lasting dominion. Awaiting the reply with which you will surely favor me, receive, etc.

Dom Fernando Guerrero.