PREFACE. ix 



Tylor -would have liked it, or even sanctioned its being 

 dedicated to him, if he were now living, I cannot, of 

 course, say. I never heard him speak of the late Mr. 

 Darwin in any but terms of warm respect, and am by 

 no means sure that he would have been well pleased 

 at an attempt to connect him with a book so polemical 

 as the present. On the other hand, a promise made 

 and received as mine was, cannot be set aside lightly. 

 The understanding was, that my next book was to be 

 dedicated to Mr. Tylor; I have written the best I 

 could, and indeed never took so much pains with any 

 other ; to Mr. Tylor's memory, therefore, I have most 

 respectfully, and regretfully, inscribed it. 



Desiring that the responsibility for what has been 

 done should rest with me, I have avoided saying any- 

 thing about the book while it was in progress to any 

 of Mr. Tylor's family or representatives. They know 

 nothing, therefore, of its contents, and if they did, 

 would probably feel with myself very uncertain how 

 far it is right to use Mr. Tylor's name in connection 

 with it. I can only trust that, on the whole, they may 

 think I have done most rightly in adhering to the 

 letter of my promise. 



October 15, 1886. 



