164 THE DESCENT OF MAN. 



nation, as the same author asks, can be named that was 

 originally monogamous? The primitive idea of justice, as 

 shown by the law of battle and other customs of which ves- 

 tiges still remain, was likewise most rude. Many existing 

 superstitions are the remnants of former false religious 

 beliefs. The highest form of religion the grand idea of 

 God hating sin and loving righteousness was unknown 

 during primeval times. 



Turning to the other kind of evidence: Sir J. Lubbock 

 has shown that some savages have recently improved a little 

 in some of their simpler arts. From the extremely curious 

 account which he gives of the weapons, tools and arts in 

 use among savages in various parts of the world it cannot 

 be doubted that these have nearly all been independent dis- 

 coveries, excepting perhaps the art of making fire.* The 

 Australian boomerang is a good instance of one such inde- 

 pendent discovery. The Tahitians when first visited had 

 advanced in many respects beyond the inhabitants of most 

 of the other Polynesian islands. There are no just grounds 

 for the belief that the high culture of the native Peruvians 

 and Mexicans was derived from abroad ;f many native 

 plants were there cultivated and a few native animals 

 domesticated. We should bear in mind that, judging from 

 the small influence of most missionaries, a wandering crew 

 from some semi-civilized land, if washed to the shores of 

 America, would not have produced any marked effect on 

 the natives unless they had already become somewhat ad- 

 vanced. Looking to a very remote period in the history of 

 the world we find, to use Sir J. Lubbock's well-known 

 terms, a paleolithic and neolithic period; and no one will 

 pretend that the art of grinding rough flint tools was a 

 borrowed one. In all parts of Europe, as far east as 

 Greece, in Palestine, India, Japan, New Zealand, and 

 Africa, including Egypt, flint tools have been discovered 

 in abundance; and of their use the existing inhabitants 

 retain no tradition. There is also indirect evidence of 

 their former use by the Chinese and ancient Jews. Hence 

 there can hardly be a doubt that the inhabitants of these 



*Sir J. Lubbock, "Prehistoric Times," 2d edit., 1869, chap, xv 

 and xvi, et passim. See also the excellent ninth chapter in Tyler's 

 * Early History of Mankind," 2d edit., 1870. 



f Dr. F. Miiller has made some good remarks to this effect in the 

 " lieise der Novara: Anthropolog. Theil," Abtheil, iii, 1868, s. 12?. 



