162 THE DESCENT OF MAN. Part I. 



acquired the same instinctive feelings which impel other 

 animals to live in a body ; and they no doubt exhi- 

 bited the same general disposition. They would have 

 felt uneasy when separated from their comrades, for 

 whom they would have felt some degree of love ; they 

 would have warned each other of danger, and have 

 given mutual aid in attack or defence. All this implies 

 some degree of sympathy, fidelity, and courage. Such 

 social qualities, the paramount importance of which 

 to the lower animals is disputed by no one, were no 

 doubt acquired by the progenitors of man in a similar 

 manner, namely, through natural selection, aided by 

 inherited habit. When two tribes of primeval man, 

 living in the same country, came into competition, 

 if the one tribe included (other circumstances being 

 equal) a greater number of courageous, sympathetic, 

 and faithful members, who were always ready to warn 

 each other of danger, to aid and defend each other, this 

 tribe would without doubt succeed best and conquer the 

 other. Let it be borne in mind how all-important, in 

 the never-ceasing wars of savages, fidelity and courage 

 must be. The advantage which disciplined soldiers 

 have over undisciplined hordes follows chiefly from the 

 confidence which each man feels in his comrades. 

 Obedience, as Mr. Bagehot has well shewn, 5 is of the 

 highest value, for any form of government is better 

 than none. Selfish and contentious people will not 

 cohere, and without coherence nothing can be effected. 

 A tribe possessing the above qualities in a high de- 

 gree would spread and be victorious over other tribes ; 

 but in the course of time it would, judging from all 

 past history, be in its turn overcome by some other 



5 See a remarkable series of articles on Physics and Politics in the 

 Fortnightly Review,' Nov. 1SU7 ; April 1, 1SGS; July 1, 1869. 



