Manchester Memoirs, Vol. Ixi. (1917), No. 6. 3 



ferocious ? It is easy to say that races differ in pugnacity, 

 but variations in the pugnacity of different groups of the same 

 race present a difficult problem. 



Mr. McDougall discusses the variations in the pugnacity 

 of different branches of the same people in Borneo : — " As one 

 travels up any of the large rivers, one meets with tribes that 

 are successively more warlike. In the coast region are peaceful 

 communities which never fight, save in self-defence, and then 

 with but poor success; while in the central region, where the 

 rivers take their rise, are a number of extremely warlike tribes, 

 whose raids have been a constant source of terror to the com- 

 munities settled m the lower reaches of the rivers. And between 

 these tribes at the centre and those in the coast region are others 

 that serve as a buffer between them, being decidedly more belli- 

 cose than the latter, but less so than the former It 



might be supposed that the peaceful coastwise people would be 

 found to be superior in moral qualities to their more warlike 

 neighbours ; but the contrary is the case. In almost all resj-vects 

 the advantage lies with the warlike tribes Their houses are 

 better built, larger, and cleaner, their domestic morality is 

 superior ; they are physically stronger, are braver, and physic- 

 ally and mentally more active, and in general are more trust- 

 worthy. But, above all, their social organisation is firmer and 

 more efficient, because their respect for and obedience to their 

 chiefs, and their loyalty to their community, are much greater 

 the moderately warlike tribes occupying the interme- 

 diate region stand midway between them and the people of 

 the coast as regards these moral qualities. 



" Yet all these tribes are of closely allied stocks, and the 

 superior moral qualities of the central tribes would seem to be 

 the direct result of the very severe group-selection to which 

 their innate pugnacity has subjected them for many genera- 

 tions. And the greater strength of their pugnacious habits, 

 which displays itself unmistakably in their more martial bear- 

 ing and more fiery temp)er, is probably due ultimately to the 

 more bracing climate of the central region, which by favouring 

 a greater bodily activity, has led to more frequent conflicts, 

 and a stricter weeding-out of the more inoffensive and less 

 energetic individuals and groups."^^ 



The statements of Mr. McDougall are clear and precise. 

 The superior mental and moral qualities of the central tribes 

 are ascribed to the " severe group-selection " to which the effects 

 of their innate pugnacity have subjected them for many genera- 

 tions. Since these words were written. Dr. Hose and Mr. 

 McDougall have published a work on the Pagan Tribes of 

 Borneo, where they describe a tribe called the Punan, who live 

 " in the central highlands wandering through the upper parts 



12. Op. cit., pp. 2.SQ-Q0. These statements are to be found in the 

 ninth edition of Air. McDougall's work, published in 1Q15. 



