198 THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



make it narrower, and what causes widen it until it passes into the 

 third, Ave have here to observe. 



If the innate feelings and ajDtitudes of a race have large shares in 

 determining the size and cohesions of the social groups it forms, still 

 more must they have large shares in determining the relations which 

 arise among the members of such groups. While the mode of life 

 followed tends to generate this or that political structure, its effects 

 are always complicated by the effects of inherited character. Whether 

 or not the primitive state, in which governing power is equally dis- 

 tributed among all warriors or all elders, passes into the state in which 

 governing power is monopolized by one, depends, in part, on the life of 

 the group as predatory or peaceful, and in part on the natures of its 

 members as prompting them to oppose dictation more or less doggedly. 

 A few facts will make this clear. 



The Araf uras (PajDuan-Islanders) who " live in peace and brotherly 

 love," have no other " authority among them than the decisions of 

 their elders." Among the harmless Todas "all disputes and questions 

 of right and wrong are settled either by arbitration or by a Puncha- 

 yet i. e., a council of five." Of the Bodo and Dhimals, described as 

 averse to military service, and " totally free from arrogance, revenge, 

 cruelty, audi fiertej''' we read that though each of their small communi- 

 ties has a nominal head who pays the tribute on its behalf, yet he is 

 without j3ower, and " disputes are settled among themselves by juries 

 of elders." In these cases, besides absence of the causes which bring 

 about chiefly supremacy, may be noted the presence of causes which 

 directly hinder it. The Papuans generally, typified by the Arafuras 

 above named, while they are described by Modera, Ross, and Kolff, as 

 "good-natured," "of a mild disposition," kind and peaceful to stran- 

 gers, are said by Earl to be unfit for military action ; " their imj)atience 

 of control . . . utterly precludes that organization which would en- 

 able "the Papuans "to stand their ground against encroachments." 

 The Bodo and Dhimals while " they are void of all violence toward 

 their own people or toward their neighbors," also " resist injunctions, 

 injudiciously urged, with dogged obstinacy." And of a kindred "very 

 fascinating people," the Lepchas, amiable, peaceful, kind, as travelers 

 unite in describing them, and who will not take service as soldiers, 

 we are told that they will " undergo great privation rather than sub- 

 mit to oppression or injustice." 



Where the innate tendency to resist coercion is strong, we find 

 this uncentralized political organization maintained, notwithstanding 

 the warlike activities which tend to initiate settled chieftainship. The 

 Nagas " acknowledge no king among themselves, and deride the idea 

 of such a personage among others " ; their " villages are continually 

 at feud " ; " every man being his own master, his passions and inclina- 

 tions are ruled by his share of brute force." And then we further 

 find that " petty disputes and disagreements about property are settled 



