162 
THE DESCENT OF MAN. 
Part L 
acquired the same instinctive feelings which impel other 
animals to live in a body; and they no donbt exhi- 
bited the same general disposition. They would have 
felt uneasy when separated from their comrades, for 
whom they would have felt some degree of love ; they 
would have warned each other of danger, and have 
given mutual aid in attack or defence. All this implies 
some degree of sympathy, fidelity, and courage. Such 
social qualities, the paramount importance of which 
to the lower animals is disputed by no one, were no 
doubt acquired by the progenitors of man in a similar 
manner, namely, through natural selection, aided by 
inherited habit. When two tribes of primeval man, 
living in the same country, came into competition,, 
if the one tribe included (other circumstances being 
equal) a greater number of courageous, sympathetic, 
and faithful members, who were always ready to warn 
each other of danger, to aid and defend each other, this 
tribe would without doubt succeed best and conquer the 
other. Let it be borne in mind how all-important, in 
the never-ceasing wars of savages, fidelity and courage 
must be. The advantage which disciplined soldiers 
have over undisciplined hordes follows chiefly from the 
confidence which each man feels in his comrades. 
Obedience, as Mr. Bagehot has well shewn , 5 is of the 
highest value, for any form of government is better 
than none. Selfish and contentious people will not 
cohere, and without coherence nothing can be effected. 
A tribe possessing the above qualities in a high de- 
gree would spread and be victorious over other tribes ; 
but in the course of time it would, judging from all 
past history, be in its turn overcome by some other 
5 See a remarkable series of articles on Physics and Politics in the- 
4 Fortnightly Review,’ Nov. 1867 ; April 1, 1868; July 1, 1869. 
