I A CHAPTER IN DARWINISM 47 



degeneration. Under certain conditions, in the 

 mouths and minds of this or that branch of a race, 

 a highly elaborate language has sometimes degener- 

 ated and become no longer fit to express complex 

 or subtle conceptions, but only such as are simpler 

 and more obvious. (See Note D.) 



The traditional history of mankind furnishes us 

 with notable examples of degeneration. High states 

 of civilisation have decayed and given place to low 

 and degenerate states. At one time it was a favourite 

 doctrine that the savage races of mankind were de- 

 generate descendants of the higher and civilised races. 

 This general and sweeping application of the doctrine 

 of degeneration has been proved to be erroneous by 

 careful study of the habits, arts, and beliefs of savages ; 

 at the same time there is no doubt that many savage 

 races as we at present see them are actually degene- 

 rate and are descended from ancestors possessed 

 of a relatively elaborate civilisation. As such we 

 may cite some of the Indians of Central America, 

 the modern Egyptians, and even the heirs of the 

 great oriental monarchies of prse - Christian times. 

 Whilst the hypothesis of universal degeneration as 

 an explanation of savage races has been justly dis- 

 carded, it yet appears that degeneration has a very 

 large share in the explanation of the condition of 

 the most barbarous races, such as the Fuegians, the 

 Bushmen, and even the Australians. They exhibit 

 evidence of being descended from ancestors more o 

 cultivated than themselves. 



With regard to ourselves, the white races of 



