( 526 ) 



increased, as soon as we try lo liiid, l)et\veen two groups of men, 

 characteristic differences, which are lo be ascribed to their different 

 circumstances of life. Examining the higldy cultnred nations which 

 Uve in very complicated conditions of life, die difficulties become 

 almost insuperable. 



We are not a little hampered in this investigation i>y Ihe tact that 

 among civilized nations mutual intercourse and mixture have a 

 disturbing influence on the eventual effect of special conditions of 

 existence. 



In Europe some «lata are furnished by the Israelites, \\hich have 

 preserved tliemselves as such for centuries iii different countries 

 under the circumstances pi-evailing there and which have absorbed 

 few foreign elements. P)U( here, too, the influencing condition^^ of 

 life are very complicated, and the Israelites of the different countries 

 have mixed with each otiier. 



Chiefly because the relations in the societies of tril)es, which have 

 not reached so high a (k'gree of civilization, are simpler and the 

 conditions of life for all llieii- members do not differ so much as 

 elsewhere, il is likely that amongst I hem e\(Mitii;d changes in tliose 

 conditicms of life will stand out more prominently and I lint innch 

 becomes clear to the investigator, which was ditllicnlt lo |Htint out 

 imder more complicate relatioiiships. 



It is moreover noiewoi-fhy, that among \\\cu\ the inlluences of 

 ]iature, of the snn-oundings in which they live, have a mncli greater 

 effect than in higher civilized societies, which have learned to shield 

 themselves better against this direct dej)endence. 



We also meet with tribes where the great disturbing factor of 

 frequent mutual intercourse and mixture is excluded in examining 

 the modifications which two tril)es have suffered by different external 

 causes. A still simpler case presents itself where two large groups of 

 the same race ha\'e lived for a long time under different external 

 circumstances and ha\e mixed little, if at all. 



Before it has been proved that the people forming these tribes, are 

 in their original qualities the same as Euro])eans, Ave must not directly 

 apply what has been observed in them, to European society. For 

 the right understanding of the pre-historic course of the development 

 of mankind, how^ever, we may refer to the tribes, which have 

 reached as yet but a lower degree of culture; in my opinion we 

 are equally Justified in draAving certain conclusions as to the corre- 

 sponding influences on liigher cultured nations from many things, 

 which Ave have observed in the social matters of the former. 



During my second journey through Borneo I had the privilege of 



