Winwood Reade informs me that the negroes of West Africa often commit
suicide. It is well known how common it was amongst the miserable
aborigines of South America after the Spanish conquest. For New
Zealand, see the voyage of the Novara, and for the Aleutian Islands,
Muller, as quoted by Houzeau, Les Facultes Mentales, etc., tom. ii.
p. 136.), but rather, from the courage displayed, as an honourable act;
and it is still practised by some semi-civilised and savage nations
without reproach, for it does not obviously concern others of the
tribe. It has been recorded that an Indian Thug conscientiously
regretted that he had not robbed and strangled as many travellers as
did his father before him. In a rude state of civilisation the robbery
of strangers is, indeed, generally considered as honourable.
Slavery, although in some ways beneficial during ancient times (34. See
Mr. Bagehot, Physics and Politics, 1872, p. 72.), is a great crime;
yet it was not so regarded until quite recently, even by the most
civilised nations. And this was especially the case, because the slaves
belonged in general to a race different from that of their masters. As
barbarians do not regard the opinion of their women, wives are commonly
treated like slaves. Most savages are utterly indifferent to the
sufferings of strangers, or even delight in witnessing them. It is well
known that the women and children of the North-American Indians aided
in torturing their enemies. Some savages take a horrid pleasure in
cruelty to animals (35. See, for instance, Mr. Hamilton s account of
the Kaffirs, Anthropological Review, 1870, p. xv.), and humanity is
an unknown virtue. Nevertheless, besides the family affections,
kindness is common, especially during sickness, between the members of
the same tribe, and is sometimes extended beyond these limits. Mungo
Park s touching account of the kindness of the negro women of the
interior to him is well known. Many instances could be given of the
noble fidelity of savages towards each other, but not to strangers;
common experience justifies the maxim of the Spaniard, Never, never
trust an Indian. There cannot be fidelity without truth; and this
fundamental virtue is not rare between the members of the same tribe:
thus Mungo Park heard the negro women teaching their young children to
love the truth. This, again, is one of the virtues which becomes so
deeply rooted in the mind, that it is sometimes practised by savages,
even at a high cost, towards strangers; but to lie to your enemy has
rarely been thought a sin, as the history of modern diplomacy too
plainly shews. As soon as a tribe has a recognised leader, disobedience
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