24 



studious avoidance of overstatiiif]; anvthinf^, his hypothetical tone 

 on this question is not to be wondered at. The data in 

 support of ])arwin's views as to the probable origin of 

 language are given iu his third chapter of the "Descent of 

 Man." 



But returning to the wider question of evolution, let us admit 

 for the sake of argument, not only that the great mass of Kafir 

 races have come from some centre in the northern portion of 

 Africa, but, that th.\7have in some measure degenerated. How 

 does this fact bear upon evolution ? As far as I can see it has 

 little or nothing to do with it. The whole history of the human 

 race has been one of migrations ; and instances of retrogression 

 have not been wanting, still looking to the great mass of 

 mankind as far as we know its history from the earliest times, 

 the broad tendency has been to travel forward like a rising tide, 

 on the wide paths of development and progress. The case of 

 the Bushmen still remains to be eonsidere.l. That they are the 

 descendants of any really higher race is a hypothesis with 

 absolutely nothing to support it. According to Theall their 

 condition when the Dutch first came to the country two hundred 

 years ago was very much what it is to-da}-, certainly no better. 

 Without stock of any kind, without agriculture, dependent on 

 their knowledge of roots and herbs, which like that of monkeys 

 is considerable, and on what carrion they can find or what 

 animals they can kill, they eke out a miserable existence. The 

 words of /Eschylus in writing of primitive man seem most 

 applicable : — 



"But first, though sceiui;, they cHii not i)ei"ceivc 

 And hearing heard not rightly. But Hke forms 

 Of phantom dreams througliout their hfe's wliole length, 

 They muckiled all at random ; did not know- 

 Houses of brick that catch the sunlight's warmth, 

 Nor yet the wjrth of carpentry. They dwelt 

 In hollowed holes like swarms of tiny ants 

 In sunless depths of caverns." 



