358 PSYCHOLOGICAL INVESTIGATION. [PART II. 



perty, and makes it respected by others. This respect, which 

 among primitive peoples is generally enforced by the proprietor 

 himself as the chief (who does not willingly interfere in the dis- 

 putes of individuals, nor is he generally looked upon as a natural 

 judge) , has an important moral effect, since it leads to self-con- 

 trol, and places limits to general covetousness. In order to 

 rouse and sustain the exertion of regulated efforts, security of 

 property and its enjoyment are essential. 



These happy results are destroyed by oppression and arbi- 

 trary power. Wherever these exist accompanied by extor- 

 tion, the very appearance of wealth is carefully avoided. Thus 

 the natives of Loango breed but few domestic cattle, and prefer 

 hunting, as the officials of the rulers rob them of the former. 1 

 In Tahiti the cultivation of the soil was neglected, because the 

 Arreois on festival occasions either destroyed or took possession 

 of the crops. 2 Dampier 3 attributes the indolence of the in- 

 habitants of Mindanao, formerly an active people, to the pre- 

 vailing despotism. This must not, however, prevent us from 

 acknowledging the latter as a primary necessary element in the 

 development of society, nor from under-estimating the beneficial 

 effects which may frequently result therefrom. 



Where the people can support themselves without much 

 effort, owing to the productiveness of the country, where the 

 population much increases, and inequalities of property or social 

 position arise, the masses must be kept in order by force. Un- 

 der such circumstances, it is of small importance for society 

 whether that superior power is subject to fixed laws, or whether 

 it is equitably exercised ; what is really essential is, that some 

 authority should be established, for in such cases any govern- 

 ment is preferable to a state of anarchy. Pure despotism has 

 at least the advantage, that labour is enforced and order main- 

 tained. If the despotism lasts, it imparts to the masses the habit 

 of labour, and the original unbridled savageness gives place 

 to a sedate submissiveness not unfrequently allied with hypo- 

 crisy and a cringing disposition. In this sense must be under- 



1 Proyart, " Hist, de Loango,, Kakongo, et autres roy.," p. 32, 1776. 



2 Wilson, "Miss. Reise in d. still Meer," p. 314, 1800. 



3 " Nouv. voy. autour du monde," ii, p. 3, Amst., 1701. 



