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•berant vitality of savage nature, wHcli even the 

 civilised man, with all his appliances, is unable to 

 subdue, and which still retains its ancient dominion 

 over the broad alluvions of Central and South America. 

 His means of sustenance were too few and too pre- 

 carious to admit of his making permanent establish- 

 ments, which in turn would involve an adjustment of 

 the relations of men and the organisation of society. 

 He was therefore a hunter from necessity, noruadic ra 

 his habits, and obliged to dispute his life with men, 

 who, like himself, were scarcely less savage than the 

 beasts of the forest. Civilisation could never have 

 been developed under such circumstances. It could 

 only originate where favourable physical circumstances 

 afford to man some relief from the pressure of imme- 

 diate and ever-recurring wants. There a genial 

 climate and an easily-cultivated soU, bountiful in in- 

 digenous fruits, would enable him not only to make 

 his permanent abode, but to devote a portion of his 

 time to the improvement of his superior nature." 



This power of locality, physically and intellec- 

 tually, has long been remarked by mankind. The 

 language of every-day life is replete with allusions 

 to the effects of country and climate. Hence the 

 " bracing" influences ascribed to one district, and the 

 "enervating" effects of another; the "healthy and 

 exhilarating" climate of one region, and the "un- 



