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of Central aiul Southern Africa, while the numerous Kafir races 

 have niigrateil from more northern latitudes, destroying and 

 driving before them the feebler aboriginal tribes. A con- 

 siderable portion of the paper is devoted to showing that 

 numerous Kafir races have probably come in successive tides 

 of migration from some more northern part of the continent, 

 probal)ly from the North East. That tides of migration have 

 swept southwards across the continent, at any rate, during the 

 last hundred years is almost a matter of history ; and there is 

 doubtless evidence of this movement having gone on for some 

 time previous to that. The Arab strain in some of the Kafirs seems 

 strongly marked. That these races may also to some extent have 

 degenerated looking to numerous similar instances in history is 

 l)ossible, though the evidence in favour of this view adduced by the 

 Bishop, even if it had all the significance which he attaches to 

 it, would only point to a position but slightly inferior to their 

 present one. The evidence on this point whih he considers of 

 the greatest value is that afforded by their language. He says : 

 '' Instead of the languages of these uncivilized races being in a 

 state of development towards fulness and complexit}', we find 

 the tendency of the language is to degenerate, to get worn down, 

 simplifying conjugations and losing inflexions." Surely the 

 inflexional decay of a language, a stage through which all 

 languages pass to a greater or less extent, is no sign of the 

 degenera ion of that language. It is as I understand the science 

 of language, a stage in development rather than in degeneration. 

 On Darw'in's speculations as to the probaljle origin of language 

 the Bishop is somewhat severe. After quoting a few extracts 

 from Darwin's speculation on this subject, he says "It is curious 

 to quote the verp hypothetical tone of this enuciation of his 

 theory, ' probably,' ' might have,' ' does not appear altogether 

 incredible.' We search in vain for data in support of if. Dr. 

 Darwin given us none.'' As the most distinguishing quality 

 of Darwin's vast luminous mind is his careful impartiality and 



