The origin of civilisation and the primitive condition of man

Front matter

li'

iili m m f!lH

1!

Chapter I. Introductoey Chapter

PAGE

Importance of tlie Subject — Difficulty of the Subject — Inactivity of the Savage Intellect — Condition of the Lowest Races of Men — Curious Customs with reference to Mothers-in-Law — La Couvade — Reasons for La Couvade — Savage Ideas on the Influence of Food — Curious Ideas with reference to Portraits — Use of Prayers as Medicine — Savage Ideas of Disease — Medical Treatment among Savages — Fancies about Twins — Life attributed to Inanimate Objects — Salutations 1

Chapter II. Art And Ornaments

Art as an Ethnological Character — Ancient Art — Art in Africa — Esquimaux Drawings — The Quippu — Picture-writing — Indian Census Roll — Indian Tombstones — Picture-writing in North America — Indian Biography — Indian Petition — Rock Sculptures — Savage Ornaments — Cheek Studs — Labrets — Ornamentation of the Skin — Tribe Marks — Tattooing — Artificial Alteration of Form — Hairdressing — Fiji Head-dresses 38

Chapter III. Marriage And Relationship

The Position of Women among Savages — Absence of Affection in Marriage — Absence of Marriage — Relationship among Savages — Different Kinds of Marriage — Polyandry — Separation of Husband and Wife — Absence of Marriage Ceremony — Marriage Ceremonies xii CONTENTS

PAGE

— Relationships Independent of Marriage — Soutli Sea System of Relationship — Toda System of Relationship — Pre valence of Adoption — The MiUc-tie — Original or Communal Marriage — Origin of Marriage — Bachofen's Views — Wrestling for Wives — M'Lennan's Views — The True Explanation — Origin of Marriage by Capture— Prevalence of Marriage by Capture — Originally a Reality — Subsequently a Form — Hindustan — Central India — Malay Peninsula — Kalmucks — Tonguses— Kamchadales — Mongols — Koreans — Esquimaux — North and South Americans — Fijians — Polynesians — Philippine Islanders — Negritos— Africa — Circassians — Europe — Rome — Poland — Russia — Britain — Explanation of Marriage Ceremonies — Marriage by Confarreatio — Expiation for Marriage — Babylonia — Armenia — Balearic Islands— Temporary Wives — Exogamy— Origin of Exogamy — Prevalence of Exogamy — Australia — Africa — Hindostan — Northern Asia — China — Circassia — North America — South America — The Causes of Polygamy — Polyandry — Polyandry Exceptional — The System of Levirate — Endogamy — The Milk-tie — Relationship through Females — Causes and Wide Distribution of the Custom — Neglect of Paternal Relation — Origin of Relationship in the Male Line — Change from Female to Male Kinship — System of Kinship through Males — The Present System . . . .69

Chapter IV. The Origin Of Marriage

Communal Marriage — Australian Marriage Law — Two Forms of Marriage in Australia — Origin of Individual Marriage — Marriage by Capture — Australia — India — Northern Asia — America — Esquimaux — Indians — South America — Pacific Islands — Africa — Arabia — Europe — Symbol of Capture — Temporary Marriages — Exogamy — Origin of Exogamy — Origin of Marriage — Polyandry — TheLevirate — Endogamy — Relationship through Females — Relationship throush Males

Chapter V. On The Development Of Relationships

On the Development of Relationships — Different Systems of Relationships—Classification of Systems — Nature of the Evidence — Custom of addressing Persons by their Relationship — Similarities of System among the Lower Races — Malayans — Fijians — Redskins — Nomenclature of Relationships — ESect of Female Kinship on S3-stems of Relationship — The Hawaiian System — American Systems — Import-

CONTENTS ance of the Mother's Brother in the Family System — The Micmac System — Burmese and Japanese Systems — The Wj^andot System — The Tamil and Fijian Systems — Remarkable Terms in Use — Explanation of the Terms — System of the Oneidas — Otawas — The Kaffir System — Mohegans — Crees — Chippewas — Summary of Redskin Systems — Hindoo Sj^stems — Karens — Esquimaux — Remarkable Similarities — Indications of Progress — Incompleteness of Systems — Existing Systems Incompatible with the Theory of Degradation — Evidence of Progress — No Evidence of Deoradation — Conclusion . 162

Chapter VI. Religion

Mental Inactivity of Savages — Religious Characteristics of Savages — Religious Characteristics of the Lower Races of Man — Classification of the Lower Religions — Religions according to Sanchoniatho — Religious Condition of the Lowest Races — Absence of Religion — Rudimentary Religions — Religious Ideas as suggested by Sleep — Religious Ideas as suggested by Dreams — Nightmare — Shadows — Thunder — Spirits regarded as Evil — Spirits regarded as causing Disease — Madness reverenced — Belief in Witchcraft — Disbelief among Savages in the Existence of Natural Death — Low Ideas of Spirits entertained by Savages — Greek and Roman Conceptions — Savage Ideas as to Eclipses — Various Notions as to Eclipses — Belief in Ghosts — Future Life dependent on Mode of Death — Belief in the Plurality of Souls — Divination — Sorcery — Confusion of Name and Thing— Confusion of Part and Whole — Similarity of Witchcraft — Wizards — Belief in Witchcraft shared by European Travellers — Sorcerers not necessarily Impostors — Fasting — Religious Dances — Smoking as a Religious Ceremony — Intoxication as a Religious Rite 205

CHAPTER VII. RELIGION (continued)

Animal-Worship — Origin of Animal- Worship — The Kobong — The Totem — Totemism in America — Totems in India and Polynesia— Serpent-Worship — Serpent- Worship in Asia — Africa — Guinea — Whydah — Agoye the Fetich of Whydah — Kaffraria — Madagascar — Polynesia — America — The Worship of other Animals — Polynesia — Sandwich Islands — ^Fiji Islands — Siberia— China— India— Ceylon — The Philippines — Africa— Madagascar — Europe — The Custom of Apologising to Animals for killing them— The Worship of the Celestial Bodies— Savage Tendency to Deification — Deities not supxiv CONTENTS posed to be Supernatural — Life attributed to Inanimate Objects — Souls attributed to Inanimate Objects — Tree- Worship in Europe — Egypt — Arabia — Congo — India — Ceylon — Hill Tribes of India — Siberia — Sumatra — Philippines — Fijians— North America — Mexico — Peru — Patagonia — Water-Worship — Europe — Siberia—India — Africa — North America — Central America — The Worship of Stones —Attributes of the God Mercury — Siberia — Hindostan — New Zealand — The Arabians — Phoenicians in Europe — Africa — Polynesia — Fiji Islands — Micronesia — America — Fire- Worship — Vestals — Asia — America — Africa — Sun and Moon Worship — America — India — Asia — Africa — Sundry Worships ...... 261

CHAPTER VIII. RELIGION (concluded)

Religion of Australians — Veddahs — Californians — Bachapins — Kaffirs — Fetichism — Hindostan — Negroes — Fetichism in other Races — North America — China — Siberia — Africa — Totemism — Developmental and Adaptational Modifications of Religion — Myths — Shamanism in Siberia — Greenland — Pacific Islands — Africa — India — Idolatry — Origin of Idolatry — Connection with the Worship of Ancestors — India — Africa — Polynesia — Siberia — Solomon's Explanation — Idols not mere Emblems — Worship of Men — Worship of

Chiefs — Worship of Trarellers — The Worship of Principles

Sacrifices — Confusion of the Victim with the Deity— Worship of the Sacrifice — Eating the Sacrifice — Human Sacrifices — Europe —

America — The Jews — Temples — Priests— Mystery Men— The Soul

Ideas of Heaven — The Future State — Creation — Prayer — Morality

— The Progress of Religion— Science and Religion .... 325

Chapter IX. Character And Morals

Difficulty of ascertaining the Character of Savage Races — -Insecurity of Life and Property among Savages— Progress in Morals— Moral Condition of Savages— Confusion of Family A flection and Moral Feeling— Absence of Moral Feeling-^-Religion not necessarily connected with Morality— Future Life not necessarily one of Punishment or Reward— Rank in Heaven — Law and Right Growth of

Moral Feeling — Origin of Moral Feeling 394

CONTENTS XV

PAGE

Chapter X. Language

Gesture Language — The Origin of Language — All Language reducible to a Few Root-words — Origin of Root-words — Onomatopoeia — Wear and Tear of Words — Nicknames and Slang Terms — Origin of the Terms Father and Mother — Words for Father and Mother in A^arious Languages — The Choice of Root-words — Poverty of Savage Languages — Deficiency in Terms of Afiection — Absence of Abstract Terms — Deficiency in Numerals — Savage Diffieulties in Arithmetic — Use of the Fingers in Arithmetic, as shown in the Names of Numerals — The Origin of the Decimal System 416

CHAPTER XL

LAWS.

Importance of the Subject — Savage Laws not founded on the Family — Tyranny of Fashion among Savages — Tyranny of Custom among Savages — Superstitious Customs — Rules relating to Legal Ceremonies and Contracts — Court Language — Gradations of Rank — Salutations and Ceremonies — Conduct of Public Business — Property in Land — Communal Property — Laws of Inheritance — Absence of Wills — Roman Wills — ^Rights of Children — The Yasu — Custom of naming Parents after Children — Laws of Inheritance — The Punishment of Crime — Regulated Revenge — The Laws of Property — Manifest and Non-Manifest Thieves — The WerD-eld — General Conclusion 448

Part I

Difficulty of obtaining Conclusive Evidence— The Stationary Condition of Savages — No Evidence of Earlier Civilisation — Evidence derivable from Domestic Animals and Pottery— Indications of Progress among Savages— Savages not Incapable of Civilisation- — Indigenous Origin of Mexican Civilisation— Progress as indicated by Language — Traces of Barbarism in Civilised Countries— Arbitrary Customs — Unity of the Human Race— -Mental Differences in the Different Races 487

CONTENTS

Part II

The Weapons of Monkeys — True Nature of Barbarism — Sequence of Customs — The Diffusion of Mankind — The Influence of External Conditions — The Esquimaux — Original and Universal Barbarism — Supposed Inevitability of Degradation — Supposed Evidence of De-^ oradation — The Survival of Customs — Progress of Religious Ideas — Fetichism — Totemism — Idolatry — The True Theory of the Four Ages — Evidence from Crossed Races — Similarity existing between Savages and Children — Language of Savages — Tendency to Reduplications — Ancient Ceremonies and Modern Games — Development of the Individual, and that of the Species ..... 60:

INDEX o41

ILLUSTRATIONS

DESCEIPTION OF THE PLATES.

PLATE PAGE

Frontispiece — View op Stonehenge. From an original drawing by M. Griset To face Title

I. Sketch op Mammoth, on a piece of ivory, found in the Rockshelter at La Madeleine, in the Dordogne . . To face 38

IL Fijian Modes of Dressing the Hair. After Williams.

' Fiji and the Fijians,' p. 158 To face %^

III. Indian Sacred Stones. After Forbes Leslie. ' Early Races of

Scotland,' voL ii. p. 464 To face 808

IV. A Human Sacrifice in Tahiti. After Cook . . To face 371

V. Group of Sacred Stones in the Dekhan. After Forbes

Leslie. * Early Races of Scotland,' vol. ii. p. 460 . To face 375

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURRS.

FIG.

1. Group of Reindeer. From a photogTaph presented to me by

M. le Marquis de Vibraye 39

2-1. Drawings on Esquimaux Bone Drillbows. Presented to

the Ashmolean Museum at Oxford by Captain Beechey . 41

5. North American Indian Census Roll. After Schoolcraft.

' History of the Indian Tribes,' vol. ii. p. 222 . . . . 47

6. Indian Gravepost. After Schoolcraft. 'History of the Indian

Tribes,' vol. i. p. 356 48

7. Indian Gravepost. After Schoolcraft. 'History of the Indian

Tribes,' vol. i. p. 356 48 xviii LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

I'IG. rAGK

8. Indian Baek Lettee. After Schoolcraft. 'History of the

Indian Tribes,' vol. i. p. 338 . 49

9. Indian Bark Letter. After Schoolcraft. ' History of the

Indian Tribes,' vol. i. p. 336 51

10. Indian Biography. After Schoolcraft. ' History of the Indian

Tribes,' vol. i. p. 336 52

11. Indian Petition. After Schoolcraft. 'History of the Indian

Tribes,' vol. i. p. 416 53

12. Caroline Islander. After Freycinet. 'Voyage autour du

Monde,' pi. 57 64

13. New Zealand Head. After Freycinet. ' Voyage autour du

14. New Zealand Head. After Freycinet. * Voyage autour du

15-17. Shoulder-blades PREPARED FOR Divination. After Klemm.

' All. Cultur. d. Mens,' vol. iii. p. 200 243

18, A Sacred Dance of the Virginians. Lafitau, vol. ii. p. 135. 259

19, Agoye, An Idol op Whiddah, Astley's 'Col. of Voyages,'

20, Sacred Stones, Fiji Islands. Williams, loc. cit. vol. i.

LIST OF THE PRI.YCIPAL WORKS QUOTED IN THIS VOLUME.

Adelung, Mithridates.

Allen and Thomson, Exped. to the

River Niger.

Arago, Narrative of a Voyage round

the World.

Arbousset and Daumas. Tour at the

Cape of Good Hope.

Asiatic Researches.

Astley, Collection of Voyages, Atkinson, Oriental and Western Siberia, „ Upper and 'Lower Amoor.

Azara, Voyages dans I'Amerique Me-

ridionale.

Bachofen, Das Mutterrecht.

Baikie, Exploring Voyage up the Rivers Kwora and Binue.

Bain, Mental and Moral Science.

Baker, Albert Nyanza.

„ Nile Tributaries of Abyssinia.

Bancroft, Native Races of Pacific States.

Barth, Travels in Central Africa,

Battel, The Strange Adventures of (Pinkerton's Voyages and Travels).

Beechey, Narrative of a Voyage to the Pacific.

Bosnian, Description of Guinea (Pinkerton's Voyages and Travels),

Brett, Indian Tribes of Guiana.

Brooke, Lapland.

Bruce, Travels in Abyssinia.

Burchill, Travels in Southern Africa.

Burton, Lake Regions of Africa, „ First Footsteps in Africa, „ Abbeokuta and the Cameron Mountains.

Burton, City of the Saints.

„ Mission to the King of Dahome.

Caillie, Travels to Timbuctoo.

Callaway, Religious System of the

Amazulu.

Campbell, Tales of the West Highlands. „ Wild Tribes of Khoudistan

Carver, Travels in North America.

Casalis, The Basutos.

Catlin, North American Indians, Chapman, Travels in S. Africa, Charlevoix, History of Paraguay.

Clarke, Travels, Collins, English Colony in Nev/ South

Wales.

Cook, Voyage round the World. (In Hawkes worth's- Voyages.) „ Second Voyage towards the

South Pole. „ Third Voyage to the Pacific Ocean.

Cox, Manual of Mythology.

Crantz, History of Greenland.

Dalton, Descriptive Ethnology of

Bengal.

Dalzel, Hist, of Dahomy.

Darwin, Animals and Plants under Domestication. ,, Origin of Species. „ Researches in Geology and Natural History.

Davis (Dr. J, B,), Thesaurus Cranio-

rum, Davis, The Chinese.

XX

LIST OF WOBKS QUOTED

Davy, Account of Ceylon,

Deane, Worship of the Serpent traced

throughout the World.

De Brosses, Du Culte des Dieux

fetiches.

De Hell, Steppes of the Caspian Sea.

Denham, Travels in Africa.

Depons, Travels in South America.

Dias, Diccionario da Lingua Tupy.

Dieffenbach, New Zealand.

Dobrizhoffer, History of the Abipones. Drury, Adventures in Madagascar.

Dubois, Description of the People of

India.

Dulaure, Histoire abregee des diffe-

rents Cultes.

Dann, The Oregon Territory.

Dupuis, Journal of a Eesidence in

Ashantee.

D'Urville, Voyage au Pole sud.

Earle, Residence in New Zealand.

Egede, Greenland.

Ellis, Three Visits to Madagascar.

,, Polynesian Researches.

Erman, Travels in Siberia.

Erskine, Western Pacific.

Eyre, Discoveries in Central Australia.

Farrar, Origin of Language.

„ Primitive Manners and Customs.

Fergusson, Tree and Serpent Worship.

Fison and Hewitt, The Kamilaroi and

Kurnai.

Fitzroy, Voyage of the ' Adventure '

and ' Beagle.' Forbes Leslie, Early Races of Scotland. Forster, Observations made during a

Voyage round the World.

Forsyth, Highlands of Central India.

Franklin, Journey to the Shores of the

Polar Sea.

Eraser, Travels in Koordistan and Mesopotamia.

„ Tour to the Himalaya Mountains.

Freycinet, Voyage autour du Monde.

Fustel de Coulangen, La Cite Antique.

Gaius, Commentaries on Roman Law.

Galton, Tropical South Africa.

logica de las Peclras de Mexico.

Garcilasso de la Vega, Commentaries

of the Yneas.

Gardner, Faiths of the World.

Gibbs (H. H.), Romance of the

Chevelere Assigne.

Girard de Rielle, La Mythologie Com-

paree.

Girard-Teulon, La Mere chez certains

Peuples de I'Antiquite.

Gladstone, Juventus Mundi.

Goguet, De I'Origine des Lois, des

Arts et des Sciences.

Graah, Voyage to Greenland.

Gray, Travels in Western Africa.

Grey (Sir G.), Polynesian Mythology. „ Journal of Two Expedi-

tions of Discovery in North- wesit

and Western Australia.

Hale, Ethnology of the United States Exploring Expedition. ,, Ethnology and Philology.

Hallam, History of England.

Hamilton, Account of the Kingdom

of Nepaul.

Hanway, Travels in Persia.

Hayes, Open Polar Sea.

Hawkesworth, Voyages of Discovery

in the Southern Hemisphere.

Hearne, Vojage to the Northern

Ocean.

Herodotus.

Hooper, Tents of the Tuski.

Humboldt, Personal Researches.

Hunter, Comparative Dictionary of the Non- Aryan Languages of India and High Asia.

,, The Annals of Rural Bengal.

Hume, Essays.

„ History of England.

Inman, Ancient Faiths in Ancient Names.

James, Expedition to the Rocky

Mountains.

Jones, Antiquities of the Southern

Indians.

LIST OF WORKS QUOTED

XXI

Journal of the Royal Institution.

Jukes, Voyage of the ' Fly.'

Karnes, History of Man.

Kenrick, Phoenicia.

Keppel, Visit to the Indian Archipelago.

„ Expedition to Borneo.

Klemm, Allgemeine Culturgeschichte der Menschheit.

,, Werkzeuge und Waffen.

Koelle, Polyglotta Africana.

Kolben, History of the Cape of Good

Hope.

Kolff, Voyage of the * Dourga.' Kotzebue, Voyage Round the World.

Labat, A'oyage aux lies de I'Amerique. Labillardiere, Voyage in Search of La

Perouse.

Lafitau, Moeurs des Sauvages ameri-

cains.

Laird, Expedition into the Interior of

Africa.

Lander (R. and J .), Niger Expedition. Lang, Aborigines of Australia.

Latham, Descriptive Ethnology.

Lecky, History of Rationalism.

Lewin, Hill Tracts of Chittagong. „ Wild Races of South-Eastern India.

Lichtenstein, Travels in South Africa. Livingstone, Missionary Travels and Researches in South Africa. „ Expedition to the Zambesi.

Locke, On the Human Understanding.

Lubbock, Prehistoric Times.

Lyall, Asiatic Studies.

Lyon, Journal during the Voyage of

Captain Parry.

McGillivray, Voyage of the ' Rattlesnake.'

]\IacLean, Compendium of Kaffir Laws and Customs.

M'Lennan, Primitive Marriage.

„ Studies in Ancient History.

McMahon, The Karens of the Golden Chersonese.

Maine, Ancient Law.

„ Early Law and Customs.

Marco Polo, Travels of.

Mariner, Tonga Islands.

Marsden, History of Sumatra.

Merolla, Voyage to Congo (Pinkerton's Voyages and Travels).

Metlahkatlah, published by the Church Missionary Societ5^

Metz, Tribes of the Neilgherries.

Middendorf, Sibirische Reise.

Mollhansen, Journey to the Pacific.

Monboddo, Origin and Progress of Language.

Montesquieu, Esprit des Lois.

Moor, Notices of the Indian Archipelago.

Morgan, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia.

Moser, The Caucasus and its People.

Mouhot, Travels in the Central Parts of Indo-China.

Miiller (C. 0.), Scientific Mythology. „ (C. S.), Description de toutes les Nations de I'Empire de Russie. „ (F. G.), Geschichte der Ameri-

kanischen Urreligionen. „ (Max), Chips from a German

Workshop. „ „ Lectures on Language,

First Series. „ „ Lectures on Language,

Second Series.

Nilsson, On the Stone Age.

Olaus Magnus.

Ortolan, Justinian.

Pallas, Voyages en differentes Provinces de I'Empire de Rnssie. „ Voyages entrepris dans les Gouvernements meridionaux de rEmj)ire de Russie.

Park, Travels.

Parkyns, Life in Abyssinia.

Perouse, La, Voyage autour du Monde.

Petherick, Egypt, the Soudan, and Central Africa.

Phear, The Aryan Village.

XXll

LIST OF WORKS QUOTED

Pliny, Natural History.

Post, Die Anfange des Staats- und Eechtslebens. ,, Der Ursprung des Eechts. „ Die Geschlechtsgenosseu-

Pregevalsky, From Kulga to Lob Nor.

Prescott, History" of Mexico.

,, History of Peru.

Prichard, Natural History of Man.

Proceedings of the American Academy

of Arts and Sciences.

Proceedings of the Boston Society of

Natural History.

Proyart, History of Loango (Pinkerton's Voyages and Travels).

Baffles, History of Java.

Eeade, Savage Africa.

Eenan, Origine du Langage.

Eeport of Committee of Legislative Council of Victoria on the Aborigines.

Eeville, Les Eeligions des Peuples noncivilises.

Eichardson, Journal of a Boat Journey.

Eink, Greenland.

Eobertson, History of America.

Eoss, Voyage to Baffin's Bay.

Scherzer, Voyage of the 'No vara.' Schoolcraft, Indian Tribes.

Seebohm, The English Village Community.

Seeman, A Mission to Viti.

Shooter, Kafirs of Natal.

Shortland, Traditions and Superstitions of the New Zealanders.

Smith (A.), Theory of Moral Sentiments and Dissertation on the Origin of Languages. „ (G.), (Bishop of Victoria), Ten

Weeks in Japan. „ (L), History of Virginia.

Smith (W.), Voyage to Guinea.

Smithsonian Eeports.

Snowden and Prall, Grammar of the

Mpongwe Language. Nev^' York.

Speke, Discovery of the Source of the

Nile.

Spencer (H.), Principles of Sociology.

„ and Duncan, Descriptive , Sociology.

Spencer's Principles of Biology.

Spiers, Life in Ancient India.

Spix and Martius, Travels in Brazil.

Sproat, Scenes and Studies of Savage

Life.

Squiers, Serpent Symbol in America, Stephens, South Australia.

Stevenson, Tiavels in South America.

Strahlenberg, Description of Eussia,

Siberia, and Great Tartary, Systems of Land Tenure. Published

by the Cobden Club.

Tacitus.

Tanner, Narrative of a Captivity among the North American Indians.

Taylor, New Zealand and its Inhabitants.

Tertre, History of the Caribby Islands.

Tindall, Grammar and Dictionary of the Namaqua (Hottentot) Language.

Transactions of the American Antiquarian Society

Transactions of the Ethnological Soc.

Transactions of the E. S. of Victoria.

Tuckey, Expedition to explore Eiver Zaire.

Tnpper, Punjab Customary Law.

Turner, Nineteen Years in Polynesia.

Tylor, Anahuac.

„ Early History of Man.

Upliam, History and Doctrine of Buddhism in Ceylon.

Vancouver, Voyage of Discovery.

Vogt, Lectures on Man.

Waitz, Anthropologic der Naturvolker. Wake, Chapters on Man.

LIST OF W0BK8 QUOTED

Wallace, Travels in the Amazons and Eio Negro. „ Malay Archipelago.

Watson and Kaye, The People of

India.

Wedgwood, Introduction to the Dictionary of the English Language. „ Origin of Language.

Whately (Archbishop of Dublin),

Political Economy.

Whipple, Report on the Indian Tribes.

Whitney, Language, and the Science of Language.

Wilkes, United States Exploring Expedition.

Williams, Fiji and the Fijians.

Wood, Natural History of Man.

Wrangel, Siberia and the Polar Sea.

Wright, Superstitions of England.

Wuttke, Die ersten Stufen der Gesch., der Menschheit.

Yate, New Zealand.

THE ORIGIN OE CIVILISATION