MAN'S PRIMITIVE CONDITION 1665 



pitable countries within the limits of the globe?" 

 There can be but one explanation. Quarrels and 

 wars between tribe and tribe, induced by the mere 

 increase of numbers and the consequent pressure on 

 the means of subsistence, have been always, ever since 

 man existed, driving the weaker races further and 

 further from the older settlements of mankind. And 

 when the ultimate points of the habitable world are 

 reached, the conditions of existence cause and necessi- 

 tate a savage and degraded life. Darwin gives the 

 true explanation of their condition when he says, 

 "How little can the higher powers of the mind be 

 brought into play! What is there for imagination to 

 picture, for reason to compare, for judgment to de- 

 cide upon?" The case of the Fuegians is a case in 

 which there can be no doubt whatever of the causes 

 of their degraded condition. On every side of them, 

 and in proportion as we recede from their wretched 

 country, the surrounding tribes are less wretched and 

 better acquainted with the simpler arts. And it is 

 remarkable that in the case of this people we have 

 proof of another point of great interest and impor- 

 tance, viz., this that even the most degraded sav- 

 ages have all the perfect attributes of humanity, 

 which can be and are developed the moment they 

 are placed under favorable conditions. Captain 

 Fitzroy had in 1830 carried off some of these people 

 to England, where they were taught the habits and 

 the arts of civilized life. Of one of these, who was 

 taken back to his own country in the Beagle, Mr. 

 Darwin tells us that his "intellect was good," and of 

 another that he had a "nice disposition." We see, 



