THE LAW OF EVOLUTION CONTINUED. 353 



122. On passing from Humanity under its individual 

 form, to Humanity as socially embodied, we find the general 

 law still more variously exemplified. The change from the 

 homogeneous to the heterogeneous, is displayed equally in 

 the progress of civilization as a whole, and in the progress of 

 every tribe or nation; and is still going on with increasing- 

 rapidity. 



As we see in existing barbarous tribes, society in its first 

 and lowest forms is a homogeneous aggregation of individu- 

 als having like powers and like functions : the only marked 

 difference of function being that which accompanies differ- 

 ence of sex. Every man is warrior, hunter, fisherman, tool- 

 maker, builder; every woman performs the same drudger- 

 ies; every family is self -sufficing, and, save for purposes of 

 aggression and defence, might as well live apart from the 

 rest. Yery early, however, in the process of social evolu- 

 tion, we find an incipient differentiation between the gov- 

 erning and the governed. Some kind of chieftainship 

 seems coeval Avith the first advance from the state of separate 

 wandering families to that of a nomadic tribe. The author- 

 ity of the strongest makes itself felt among a body of sav- 

 ages, as in a herd of animals, or a posse of schoolboys. At 

 first, however, it is indefinite, uncertain ; is shared by others 

 of scarcely inferior power; and is unaccompanied by any dif- 

 ference or occupation or style of living: the first ruler kills 

 his own game, makes his own weapons, builds his own hut, 

 and, economically considered, does not differ from others 

 of his tribe. Gradually, as the tribe progresses, the contrast 

 between the governing and the governed grows more de- 

 cided. Supreme pow r er becomes hereditary in one family; 

 the head of that family, ceasing to provide for his own 

 wants, is served by others ; and he begins to assume the sole 

 office of ruling. At the same time there has been 



arising a co-ordinate species of government that of Re- 

 ligion. As all ancient records and traditions prove, the earli- 

 est rulers are regarded as divine personages. The maxims 



