298 A YEAR IN BRAZIL. 



merely the possession of an intelligent will, capable of develop- 

 ment, and enabled to profit by experience. 



I maintain that man was created noble and pure, with vast 

 and untold capabilities. Since his creation, man, left to himself, 

 has but degenerated. Soon came that mysterious catastrophe 

 which we call the Fall; and synchronously the promise of a 

 wonderful Redemption, which, in course of time, was effected. 

 Subsequent on the Fall came degeneration — degradation of the 

 antediluvian world; degradation of the Israelites, as described 

 in the Old Testament; degradation of the Hindoos from the 

 original standard of their religion, with lofty aspirations and ideals ; 

 degradation of Mohammedanism, etc. ; degradation of Christianity. 



The same truth confronts us in the records of the rocks. We 

 find always that new forms were introduced in their highest state, 

 full of life and vigour. They worked out the object of their 

 creation, and then either became extinct on the introduction of 

 higher forms, or remain to the present day degraded, degenerated, 

 depauperated, and comparatively scantily represented. 



This is the origin of all savage tribes. As the struggle to gain 

 the necessaries for bare existence increases, so man degenerates. 

 Driven out by stronger tribes, the weaker are forced to live under 

 the most uncongenial conditions, e.g. the Eskimos, Australians, 

 Bushmen, Tierra del Fuegians. These all now live in countries 

 the most unfavourable, with surroundings the least conducive to 

 existence, let alone to advancement. 



Mr. Drummond, in " Natural Law in the Spiritual World," has 

 pointed out that death means " the want of correspondence with 

 the environment ; " and that " the organism is but a part, nature 

 is the complement." The nations of the temperate zones have, 

 at least, an environment conducive to progress — grasses which 

 produce food, e.g. wheat; animals capable of domestication; a 

 climate where excessive labour is, at least, possible during a pro- 

 longed period. The four people I have referred to have none of 

 these advantages, and so it is with the Indians on the Amazons. 



On the introduction of a civilized community into the midst of 

 uncivilized nations, the latter cannot come into correspondence 

 with their environment ; they either become extinct, as in the case 

 of the North American Indians, who are a race of warlike hunters, 



