CANNIBALISM. I35 



this loathsome practice was not primeval, 

 probably because he considers it as un- 

 natural.* And so it is, — that is to say, it 

 is against the better nature of Man; but the 

 fact of its existence proves that within the 

 limits of that nature there are elements liable 

 to perversions even so horrible as this. And 

 so we come upon the fact of the two natures 

 of Man, and of the power of the worst parts 

 of his nature to overcome the best. It is 

 thus that customs the most cruel and 

 depraved become established. But if this be 

 the explanation, and the only possible ex- 

 planation, of cannibalism, is it not evident 

 that this may also be the explanation of 

 other customs which are violent and horrible 



. . * 'Trehistoric Times, "^ p. 371. 



