IN HIGHER PEOPLES 101 



barbarity which seem almost unbelievable to one 

 accustomed all his life to t^-pes of hmnan char- 

 acter such as are found in Europe and America. 



The following paragraph is about the Sioux In- 

 dians. It was written by a man who lived among 

 them for a number of years and knew them thor- 

 oughly: 



**They are bigoted, barbarous, and exceedingly 

 superstitious. They regard most of the vices of 

 higher men as virtues. Theft, arson, rape, and 

 murder are regarded by them as the means of dis- 

 tinction. The young Indian is taught from child- 

 hood that killing is the highest of virtues. In 

 their dances and at their feasts the warriors re- 

 cite their deeds of theft, pillage, and slaughter as 

 precious things. And the highest ambition of a 

 young Indian is to secure the * feather,' which is 

 the evidence of his having murdered or partici- 

 pated in the murder of some human being — 

 whether man, woman, or child is immaterial. '' 



** Conscience," says Burton, *Moes not exist in 

 east Africa ; and repentance simply expresses re- 

 gret for missed opportunities for crime. Rob- 

 bery makes the honorable man, and murder makes 

 the hero.'' 



When the Fuegians, who inhabit the southern 

 extremity of South America, are hard-pressed by 

 want, they kill their old women rather than their 

 dogs, saying: *^01d women no use; dogs kill ot- 

 ters." 



*^What," said a negro to Burton, ^*am I to 



