Sire Acton, I have received your letter and acknowledge the reason behind your scepticism. In your request, I will relate more details about my strange encounter with a Hindoo saint in Hinalayan mountains. As you already know from my previous correspondence, I had been travelling in himalayas for quite a while. I stayed with the native to understand their culture in relation to our own. The Buddhists living in Tibetan plateau warned me to not go beyond because their could be wild creatures or even a monster they call “Yeti”. But I travelled through this region with my men. I was pretty sure our riffles could protect us from any danger. However, I had not realised at the time that a storm would seperated us. I found a cave after wandering alone for a while; it was quite warm inside. As many men would do in this situation, I was constantly praying to God for refuge. I did not realise it until morning that there was already a man living in there. He was sitting on, what I believe is, a stone slab and wearing a thin scarlet robe in the cold; yet it did not seem to affect him at all. From the appearance of his beard and hair, he looked like a thousand year old man. His body was thin as well, from lack of food, it seemed. What I find odd is that this Indian sage was not angry at all by my presence. I have heard many tales during my stay in India, how just passing by a meditating sage would anger him and he would cast a curse on the intruder. However, he did not look particularly happy either.
The sage came near me and asked about me, my origin, my country etc. I was very...