INTRODUCTION. xxiii 
savage must produce some article in return as a me¬ 
dium of barter, some natural production of bis country 
adapted to tbe trader s wants. His wants will increase 
as bis ideas expand by communication with Europeans: 
thus, bis productions must increase in due proportion, 
and be must become industrious ; industry being the 
first grand stride towards civilization. 
Tbe natural energy of all countries is influenced by 
climate; and civilization being dependent upon indus¬ 
try, or energy, must accordingly vary in its degrees 
according to geographical position. Tbe natives of 
tropical countries do not progress : enervated by in¬ 
tense beat, they incline rather to repose and amuse¬ 
ment than to labour. Free from tbe rigour of winters, 
and the excitement of changes in the seasons, tbe 
native character assumes tbe monotony of their coun¬ 
try's temperature. They have no natural difficulties 
to contend with ; no struggle with adverse storms and 
icy winds and frost-bound soil; but an everlasting 
summer, and fertile ground producing with little tillage, 
excite no enterprise ; and tbe human mind, unexercised 
by difficulties, sinks into languor and decay. There are 
a lack of industry, a want of intensity of character, 
a love of ease and luxury, which leads to a devotion 
to sensuality,—to a plurality of wives, which lowers 
the character and position of woman. AVoman, reduced 
to that false position, ceases to exercise her proper influ¬ 
ence upon man; she becomes the mere slave of passion, 
and, instead of holding her sphere as the emblem of 
civilization, she becomes its barrier. The absence of 
real love, engendered by a plurality of wives, is an 
absolute bar to progress; and so long as polygamy 
exists, an extension of civilization is impossible. In 
all tropical countries polygamy is the prevailing evil: 
this is the greatest obstacle to Christianity. The Mahom- 
medan religion, planned carefully for Eastern habits, 
allowed a plurality of wives, and prospered. The 
savage can be taught the existence of a Deity, and 
become a Mussulman; but to him the hateful law of 
