THE DESCENT OR ORIGIN OF MAN 111 



too complex to be clearly followed out, we can trace some 

 of the probable steps. In the first place, as the reasoning 

 powers and foresight of the members became improved, each 

 man would soon learn that if he aided his fellow-men, he 

 would commonly receive aid in return. From this low 

 motive he might acquire the habit of aiding his fellows; 

 and the habit of performing benevolent actions certainly 

 strengthens the feeling of sympathy which gives the first 

 impulse to benevolent actions. Habits, moreover, followed 

 during many generations, probably tend to be inherited. 



But another and much more powerful' stimulus to the 

 development of the social virtues is afforded by the praise 

 and the blame of our fellow-men. To the instinct of sym- 

 pathy, as we have already seen, it is primarily due that we 

 habitually bestow both praise and blame on others, while 

 we love the former and dread the latter when applied to our- 

 selves; and this instinct no doubt was originally acquired, 

 like all the other social instincts, through natural selection. 

 At how early a period the progenitors of man, in the course 

 of their development, became capable of feeling and being 

 impelled by the praise or blame of their fellow-creatures, 

 we cannot, of course, say. But it appears that even dogs 

 appreciate encouragement, praise, and blame. The rudest 

 savages feel the sentiment of glory, as they clearly show 

 by preserving the trophies of their prowess, by their habit 

 of excessive boasting, and even by the extreme care which 

 they take of their personal appearance and decorations; for 

 unless they regarded the opinion of their comrades, such 

 habits would be senseless. 



They certainly feel shame at the breach of some of their 

 lesser rules, and apparently remorse, as shown by the case 

 of the Australian who grew thin and could not rest from 

 having delayed to murder some other woman, so as to pro- 

 pitiate his dead wife's spirit. Though I have not met with 

 any other recorded case, it is scarcely credible that a savage 

 who will sacrifice his life rather than betray his tribe, or 

 one who will deliver himself up as a prisoner rather than 



