SECT. III.] CAUSES OP CIVILIZATION. 345 



peoples in contact with other branches of mankind either 

 friendly or inimical to them. 



The influence which these migrations produce upon the civi- 

 lization of the respective nations may be beneficial or not, 

 though in the majority of cases the good effects are predomi- 

 nating. These migrations in the first place prevent a firm 

 foundation of social order and the habit of regular labour, 

 engendering a desire for constant changes. The Hottentot, 

 though he may be in a good place and has no complaint against 

 his master, leaves him suddenly, as he cannot long bear the 

 uniformity of his life, but returns as suddenly to his former 

 service. 1 The Gauchos frequently leave their masters for no 

 other reason " than that they have served them long enough." 2 

 Whoever has been brought up in the Pampas of Buenos Ayres 

 is unfit for any work which is not in some way connected 

 with cattle-breeding. To live in a city, or as agricultu- 

 rists, would be intolerable to those people. Most of them 

 have never seen a town, and know not how old they are. Their 

 only ambition is to be good horsemen, their favourite occupa- 

 tion cattle-breeding ; trade and every kind of industry are de- 

 spised, neglected, and abandoned to the stranger. 3 We are, 

 therefore, not surprised to read in Darwin that the number of 

 horses, and the abundance of provisions in Montevideo checked 

 all industry. 



Another unfavourable consequence of migrations is this, that 

 the transition from a rich to a poor country exposes the respec- 

 tive peoples to want and a loss of the civilization they had pre- 

 viously attained, whilst the sudden transition from want to 

 abundance may induce a degeneracy not less inimical to pro- 

 gress. Whether and how far these evils may be avoided, de- 

 pends not so much on the new natural conditions as on the 

 skill and character of the immigrants, and on the useful ani- 

 mals and plants they may introduce into their new country. 



1 Moodie, " Ten Years in South Africa," i, p. 215, 1835. 



2 Ausland, p. 28, 1858. 



3 MacCann, " Two thousand miles ride through the Argentine Provinces," 

 i, p. 57, 155, 1853 ; and the description of the Gauchos by Azara, " Voyage 

 dans 1' Amerique merid.," ii, p. 292, 1809 ; Head, " Hough notes taken during 

 Journeys across the Pampas," p. 258, 1826. 



