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Show 182 THE DESCENT OF MAN. PAnT L the fingers, first of one band and then of the other, and lastly of the toes. We have traces of this in our own decimal system, and in the Roman numerals, which after reaching to the number V., change into VI., &c., when the other hand no doubt was used. So again,. "when we speak of three-score and ten, we are count" ing by the vigesimal system, each score thus ideally " made, standing for 20-for 'one man' as a Mexican " or Carib would put it." 31 According to a large and increasing school of philologists, every language bears the marks of its slow and gradual evolution. So it is with the art of writing, as letters are rudiments of pictorial representations. It is hardly possible to read Mr. l\-i'Lennan's work 32 and not admit that almost all civilised nations still retain some traces of such rude habits as the forcible capture of wives. What ancient nation, as the same author asks, can be named that was originally monogamous? The primitive idea of justice, as shewn by the law of battle and other customs of which traces still remain, was likewise most rude. Many existing superstitions arc the remnants of former false religious beliefs. The highest form of religion- the grand idea of God hating sin and loving righteousness -was unknown during primeval times. Turning to the other kind of evidence : Sir J. Lubbock has shewn that some savages have recently improved a little in some of their simpler arts. From the 31 'lloyal Institution of Great Britain,' March 15, 1867. Also, 'Researches into the Early History of Mankind,' 1865. • 32 'Primitive Marriage,' 1865.. See, likewise, an excellent article, endently by the same author, m the 'North British Review,' July, 1869. Also, Mr. L. H. Morgan, ''A Conjectural Solution of the Origin of the Class. System of Relationship," in 'Proc. American Acad. of Scie~ce~,' vol. vii. Feb. 1868. Prof. Schaaffhauscn (' Anthropolog. Rev1ew, Oct. 1869, p. 373) remn.rks on "the vestio-cs of human sacri" ficcs found both in Homer and the Old Testament!• CIIAl'. V. CIVILISED NA'fiONS. 183 extremely curious account which he gives of the weapons, tools, and arts, used or practised by savages in various parts of the world, it cannot be doubted that these have nearly all been independent discoveries, excepting per haps the art of making fire.33 The Australian boomerang is a good instance of one such independent discovery. 'rhe Tahitians when first visited had advanced in many respects beyond the inhabitants of most of the other Polynesian islands. There are no just grounds for the belief that the high culture of the native Peruvians and Mexicans was derived from any foreign source ; 34 many native plants were there cultivated, and a few native animals domesticated. We should bear in mind that a wandering crew from some semi-civilised land if washed to the shores of America, would not, judgin~ from the small influence of most missionaries, have produced any marked effect on the natives, unless they had already become somewhat advanced. Looking to a very remote period in the history of the world, we find, to use Sir J. Lubbock's well-known terms, a paleolithic and neolithic period; and no one will pretend that the art of grinding rough flint tools 'vas a borrowed one. In all parts of Europe, as far east as Greece, in Palestine, I~dia, Japan, New Zealand, and Africa, including Egypt, flmt tools have been discovered in abundance; and of their use the existing inhabitants retain no tradition. There is also indirect evidence of their former use by the Chinese and ancient Jews. Hence there can hardly be a ~oubt that the inhabitants of these many countries, which mclude nearly the whole civilised world, were once in a barbarous condition. To believe that man was abori- ~ 3 Sir J. :r.uubock, 'Prehistoric Times,' 2nd edit. 1869, chup. XV. unu xv1. et passun. 34 Dr. F. Muller has mudc some good rcmru:ks to this effect in the 'Reise der Novara: Anthropolog. Theil,' Abtheil. iii. 1868, s. 127. |