308 PSYCHOLOGICAL INVESTIGATION. [PART II. 



the influence of surrounding nature. What would have become 

 of the transmarine colonies of the tough and almost indestruct- 

 ible English without a constant reinforcement of civilized men 

 from the mother country ? In spite of all progressive tendency 

 ascribed to the white race, we answer unhesitatingly, it would 

 either have perished or returned to barbarism. These results 

 are everywhere constant, where intercourse or the influx of 

 fresh forces is for a sufficient length of time interrupted. 



In the plains of Cordova and San-Luis (Argentine Republic) 

 the pure Spanish race predominates, the young females are 

 frequently of a white rosy colour and delicate structure, yet 

 living in a state of isolation the Spaniards have not exhibited 

 greater activity and a stronger tendency to civilization than 

 the aborigines of that country. The German and Scottish 

 colony south of Buenos Ayres, with their flourishing and neat 

 villages, form a decided contrast to the former. 1 The white 

 settlers south of Buenos Ayres are scarcely less rude and bar- 

 barous than the Indians. Criminals and the scum of all nations 

 who take refuge among them instruct them in all that is 

 wicked. Many cruelties and devastations are committed by 

 these lawless men over whom the Indian chiefs have no author- 

 ity. 2 The Creoles of the La Plata States are almost as godless 

 and dirty as the Indians. To construct wind-mills is beyond 

 their mechanical talent, and notwithstanding the great fertility 

 of the soil, there is no garden to be seen on the high road from 

 Buenos Ayres to Barranquitos. Except in the villages there 

 is no cultivation of the soil. To catch lice is the chief amuse- 

 ment of the women, who offer them to strangers as dainties ; 3 

 they are dirty beyond measure; they are even deficient in 

 curiosity. 



A similar description is given of the inhabitants of Tucuman. 4 

 The Indians of Rioja are simple-minded sober men, whose dis- 

 putes never lead to bloodshed; they are more industrious and per- 



1 Sarmiento, loc. cit. 



2 Garcia, in De Angelas, p. 12 ; " Collection de obras y docurnentos," iii, 1836. 



3 Dobrizhofler, " Gesch. der Abiponer," ii, p. 445, 1783 ; Renger, " Reise 

 nach Paraguay," p. 393, 1835. 



4 Miers, " Travels in Chile and La Plata," i, pp. 28, 30, 314, 1826 ; Andrews, 

 " Journey from Buenos Ayres through Cordova," etc., i, p. 187, 1827. 



