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been as remote as the origin of a very distinct racea race as different from the Malay in mental and moral； as it is in physical characters。
As bearing upon this question it is important to point out the harmony which exists； between the line of separation of the human races of the Archipelago and that of the animal productions of the same country； which I have already so fully explained and illustrated。 The dividing lines do not； it is true； exactly agree； but I think it is a remarkable fact； and something more than a mere coincidence； that they should traverse the same district and approach each other so closely as they do。 If； however； I am right in my supposition that the region where the dividing line of the Indo…Malayan and Austro…Malayan regions of zoology can now be drawn； was formerly occupied by a much wider sea than at present； and if man existed on the earth at that period； we shall see good reason why the races inhabiting the Asiatic and Pacific areas should now meet and partially intermingle in the vicinity of that dividing line。
It has recently been maintained by Professor Huxley； that the Papuans are more closely allied to the negroes of Africa than to any other race。 The resemblance both in physical and mental characteristics had often struck myself； but the difficulties in the way of accepting it as probable or possible； have hitherto prevented me front giving full weight to those resemblances。 Geographical； zoological； and ethnological considerations render it almost certain； that if these two races ever had a common origin； it could only have been at a period far more remote than any which has yet been assigned to the antiquity of the human race。 And even if their lenity could be proved； it would in no way affect my argument for the close affinity of the Papuan and Polynesian races； and the radical distinctness of both from the Malay。
Polynesia is pre…eminently an area of subsidence； and its goat widespread groups of coral…reefs mark out tile position of former continents and islands。 The rich and varied； yet strangely isolated productions of Australia and New Guinea； also indicate an extensive continent where such specialized forms were developed。 The races of men now inhabiting these countries are； therefore； most probably the descendants of the races which inhabited these continents and islands。 This is the most simple and natural supposition to make。 And if we find any signs of direct affinity between the inhabitants of any other part of the world and those of Polynesia； it by no means follows that the latter were derived from the former。 For as； when a Pacific continent existed； the whole geography of the earth's surface would probably be very different from what it now is； the present continents may not then have risen above the ocean； and； when they were formed at a subsequent epoch； may have derived some of their inhabitants from the Polynesian area itself。 It is undoubtedly true that there are proofs of extensive migrations among the Pacific islands； which have led to community of language from the sandwich group to New Zealand； but there are no proofs whatever of recent migration from any surrounding country to Polynesia； since there is no people to be found elsewhere sufficiently resembling the Polynesian race in their chief physical and mental characteristics。
If the past history of these varied races is obscure and uncertain； the future is no less so。 The true Polynesians； inhabiting the farthest isles of the Pacific； are no doubt doomed to an early extinction。 But the more numerous Malay race seems well adapted to survive as the cultivator of the soil； even when his country and government have passed into the hands of Europeans。 If the tide of colonization should be turned to New Guinea； there can be little doubt of the early extinction of the Papuan race。 A warlike and energetic people； who will not submit to national slavery or to domestic servitude； must disappear before the white man as surely as do the wolf and the tiger。
I have now concluded my task。 I have given； in more or less detail； a sketch of my eight years' wanderings among the largest and the most luxuriant islands which adorn our earth's surface。 I have endeavoured to convey my impressions of their scenery； their vegetation； their animal productions； and their human inhabitants。 I have dwelt at some length on the varied and interesting problems they offer to the student of nature。 Before bidding my reader farewell； I wish to make a few observations on a subject of yet higher interest and deeper importance； which the contemplation of savage life has suggested； and on which I believe that the civilized can learn something from the savage man。
We most of us believe that we； the higher races have progressed and are progressing。 If so； there must be some state of perfection； some ultimate goal； which we may never reach； but to which all true progress must bring nearer。 What is this ideally perfect social state towards which mankind ever has been； and still is tending？ Our best thinkers maintain； that it is a state of individual freedom and self…government； rendered possible by the equal development and just balance of the intellectual； moral； and physical parts of our nature；a state in which we shall each be so perfectly fitted for a social existence； by knowing what is right； and at the same time feeling an irresistible impulse to do what we know to be right。； that all laws and all punishments shall be unnecessary。 In such a state every man would have a sufficiently well…balanced intellectual organization； to understand the moral law in all its details； and would require no other motive but the free impulses of his own nature to obey that law。
Now it is very remarkable； that among people in a very low stage of civilization； we find some approach to such a perfect social state。 I have lived with communities of savages in South America and in the East； who have no laws or law courts but the public opinion of the village freely expressed。 Each man scrupulously respects the rights of his fellow； and any infraction of those rights rarely or never takes place。 In such a community； all are nearly equal。 There are cone of those wide distinctions； of education and ignorance； wealth and poverty； master and servant； which are the product of our civilization； there is none of that wide…spread division of labour； which； while it increases wealth； products also conflicting interests； there is not that severe competition and struggle for existence； or for wealth； which the dense population of civilized countries inevitably creates。 All incitements to great crimes are thus wanting； and petty ones are repressed； partly by the influence of public opinion； but chiefly by that natural sense of justice and of his neighbour's right； which seems to be； in some degree； inherent in every race of man。
Now； although we have progressed vastly beyond the savage state in intellectual achievements； we have not advanced equally in morals。 It is true that among those classes who have no wants that cannot be easily supplied； and among whom public opinion has great influence； the rights of others are fully respected。 It is true； also； that we have vastly extended the sphere of those rights； and include within them all the brotherhood of man。 But it is not too much to say； that the mass of our populations have not at all advanced beyond the savage code of morals； and have in many cases sunk below it。 A deficient morality is the great blot of modern civilization； and the greatest hindrance to true progress。
During the last century； and especially in the last thirty years； our intellectual and material advancement has been too quickly achieved for us to reap the full benefit of it。 Our mastery over the forces of mature has led to a rapid growth of population； and a vast accumulation of wealth； but these have brought with them such au amount of poverty and crime； and have fostered the growth of so much sordid feeling and so many fierce passions； that it may well be questioned； whether the mental and moral status of our population has not on the average been lowered； and whether the evil has not overbalanced the good。 Compared with our wondrous progress in physical science and its practical applications； our system of government； of administering justice； of national education； and our whole social and moral organization； remains in a state of barbarism。 ＇See note next page。＇ And if we continue to devote our chief energies to the utilizing of our knowledge the laws of nature with the view of still further extending our commerce and our wealth； the evils which necessarily accompany these when too eagerly pursued； may increase to such gigantic dimensions as to be beyond cur power to alleviate。
We should now clearly recognise the fact； that the wealth and knowledge and culture of the few do not constitute civilization； and do not of themselves advance us towards the 〃perfect social state。〃 Our vast manufacturing system； our gigantic commerce； our crowded towns and cities； support and continually renew a mass of human misery and crime absolutely greater than has ever existed before。 They create and maintain in life…long labour an ever… increasing army； whos