128 THE DESCENT OF MAX. [Part I. 



mesticated, would be more proliiic than wild men. It is 

 also probable that the increased fertility of civilized na- 

 tions would become, as with our domestic animals, an in- 

 herited character : it is at least known that with mankind 

 a tendency to produce twins runs in families." 



Kotwithstanding that savages appear to be less pro- 

 lific than civilized people, they would no doubt rapidly in- 

 crease if their numbers wex'C not by some means rigidly 

 kept down. The Santali, or hill-tribes of India, have 

 recently afforded a good illustration of this fact ; for they 

 have increased, as shown by 3Ir. Hunter," at an extraor- 

 dinary rate since vaccination has been introduced, other 

 pestilences mitigated, and war sternly repressed. This 

 increase, however, would not have been possible had not 

 these rude people spread into the adjoining districts and 

 worked for hire. Savages almost always marry; yet 

 there is some prudential restraint, for they do not com- 

 monly marry at the earliest possible age. The young 

 men are often required to show that they can support a 

 wife, and they generally have fii'st to earn the price with 

 which to purchase her from her parents. AYith savages 

 the difficulty of obtaining subsistence occasionally limits 

 their number in a much more direct manner than with 

 civilized people, for all tribes periodically suffer from se- 

 vere famines. At such times savages are forced to devour 

 much bad food, and their health can hardly fail to be in- 

 jured. Many accounts have been published of their pro- 

 truding stomachs and emaciated lunbs after and during' 

 famines. They are then, also, compelled to wander much 

 about, and their infants, as I was assured in Australia, 

 perish in large numbers. As famines are periodical, de- 

 jicnding chiefly on extreme seasons, all tribes must fluc- 



'5 Mr. Sedgwick, 'British and Foreign Mcdico-Cliirurg. Kcvicw,' July, 

 1S63, p. 110. 



" 'The Annals of Kural Bengal,' by W. W. Hunter, ISCS, p. 259. 



