344 PSYCHOLOGICAL INVESTIGATION. [PART II. 



population, without any distinctive character, surrounded by a 

 nature so rich and varied, as scarcely to call forth any bodily 

 labour. Devoid of all moral ideas, they consider physical 

 enjoyment as the chief object of life. The tyranny of the 

 nobility, intercourse with the neighbouring islands, and, in 

 some parts, wars between the tribes, influence civilization, 

 and exercise a sort of antagonism against the influences of 

 the agencies of the natural conditions. The inhabitants of the 

 high islands of volcanic origin in Polynesia, generally occupy 

 a higher scale than those of the Coral islands, who, kept down 

 by the paucity of nature, are more savage and dirty in their 

 habits, and less accessible to strangers. 1 



If it be our chief object to ascertain the acting impulses 

 which induce man to leave the primitive state, we must turn 

 to the consideration of social and historical conditions ; for, 

 however important natural and geographical advantages may 

 be as occasional causes, they only produce a positive effect by 

 the mode of life which is adopted by their agency and by the 

 abundance or deficiency of the necessaries of life which they 

 afford but even these influences become either a propelh'ng or 

 repelling force by the social consequences which they produce. 



This is first shown by the migrations of peoples which are 

 usually caused by natural conditions, and by the wars in which 

 they become in most cases entangled. 



These two constitute, unquestionably, the most potent levers 

 acting on civilization. Deficiency of means of subsistence or a 

 powerful enemy, may force a people to leave their native 

 country. Even in present times, the Indians separate in tribes 

 if the chase prove unproductive. Exploring parties having 

 been first sent out, the separation is peaceably effected, and 

 friendly relations are established between the separated parties. 

 The separation may also have been caused by internal dis- 

 cord, or they may have been dispersed by external wars. 2 

 These migrations, frequently extending over vast tracts of 

 land, and through different climates, proceeding very gradu- 

 ally, become very pregnant in their results in bringing the 



1 Latham, loc. cit., Pickering, p. 68. 



2 Hunter, " Memoirs of a Captivity among the Indians," p. 180, 1824. 



