272 PSYCHOLOGICAL INVESTIGATION. [PART II. 



so does the latter overpower the brute, not so much by phy- 

 sical as by mental force. He uses their instincts in a variety 

 of modes to deceive them, imitates their sounds, catches them 

 by baits, and hunts each species according to its peculiar 

 habits. 



As this accommodation to circumstances and their skilful 

 use shows, even in the most savage nations, a decided supe- 

 riority above the brute creation, so it is not less exhibited in 

 the subjection of nature to human objects. Protection against 

 the influences of the climate by dress and habitation, manu- 

 facture of tools, and instruments for fishing, hunting, etc., the 

 preparation of food, are found among every people on the 

 globe ; in all which we find a far greater use of experience 

 than is found in the most gifted animal. What has formerly 

 been related of the natives of the Marian Islands, namely, that 

 they were unable to light a fire, has been proved to be fabulous. 

 At Fakaafo only (Union Islands, north of the Samoa Archi- 

 pelago), where the inhabitants live entirely on cocoa-nuts and 

 pandanus, no trace of cooking or firing has been found, 1 but 

 they seem scarcely to have any use for it. 



Next to the teachings of experience, must be mentioned the 

 important privilege of the designating or representing faculty 

 by which man gives fixity to and regulates his thoughts, and 

 exchanges them with others. Whilst animals possess but im- 

 perfect means of communication, and consequently every indi- 

 vidual leads, if not externally yet internally, an isolated life, 

 we see man in every stage of his development constantly en- 

 deavouring to give expression to his emotions by sensible 

 images and sounds. In this kind of activity, as Schleiermacher 

 observed, is manifested an essentially human peculiarity. Ori- 

 ginally he finds a certain relief by giving audible and visible 

 expression to his feelings. This is not the place to enter into 

 any particulars as regards the origin of language ; all that we 

 here require is, to point out the possession of language, and 

 its use as a specific human peculiarity. 



It is now generally admitted, that even the most barbarous 



1 Wilkes's " Narrative of United States' Expedition," v, p. 18, 1845. 



