190 PRIMEVAL MAN. 



in that history the more clear become the 

 traces of some pure traditions, and the rays 

 of some primeval light. Such evidence as 

 history and philosophy and criticism afford 

 on the course of religious knowledge is not 

 in favour of the doctrine of a gradual rise, 

 but, on the contrary, of continuous corruption 

 and decline. " If there is one thing," says 

 Professor Max Miiller, " which a comparative 

 study of religions places in the clearest light, 

 it is the inevitable decay to which every 

 religion is exposed .... Whenever we can 

 trace back a religion to its first beginnings, 

 we find it free from many blemishes that 

 affected it in its later stages."* One of the 

 most ancient religions of the world is re- 



* "Chips from a German Workshop," vol. i., pref., xxiii. 



