THE DESCENT OR OBIGIN OF MAN 161 



been highly esteemed. As no man can practice the virtues 

 necessary for the welfare of his tribe without self-sacrifice, 

 self-command, and the power of endurance, these qualities 

 have been at all times highly and most justly valued. The 

 American savage voluntarily submits to the most horrid 

 tortures without a groan, to prove and strengthen his forti- 

 tude and courage; and we cannot help admiring him, or 

 even an Indian Fakir, who, from a foolish religious motive, 

 swings suspended by a hook buried in his flesh. 



The other so-called self -regarding virtues, which do not 

 obviously, though they may really, affect the welfare of the 

 tribe, have never been esteemed by savages, though now 

 highly appreciated by civilized nations. The greatest in- 

 temperance is no reproach with savages. Utter licentious- 

 ness and unnatural crimes prevail to an astounding extent. " 

 As soon, however, as marriage, whether polygamous or 

 monogamous, becomes common, jealousy will lead to the 

 inculcation of female virtue; and this, being honored, will 

 tend to spread to the unmarried females. How slowly it 

 spreads to the male sex we see at the present day. Chastity 

 eminently requires self-command; therefore it has been 

 honored from a very early period in the moral history of 

 civilized man. As a consequence of this, the senseless 

 practice of celibacy has been ranked from a remote period 

 as a virtue." The hatred of indecency, which appears to 

 us so natural as to be thought innate, and which is so valu- 

 able an aid to chastity, is a modern virtue, appertaining 

 exclusively, as Sir G. Staunton remarks," to civilized life. 

 This is shown by the ancient religious rites of various 

 nations, by the drawings on the walls of Pompeii, and by 

 the practices of many savages. 



We have now seen that actions are regarded by savages, 

 and were probably so regarded by primeval man, as good or 



*• Mr. M'Lennan has given ("Primitive Marriage," 1865, p. 176) a good 

 collection of facts on tMs head. 



»> Lecky, "History of European Morals," voL I, 1869, p. 109. 

 88 "Embassy to China," vol. u. p. 348. 



