historical lectures and essays(查尔斯金斯利历史讲座)
the human race sprang from a single pair； there must have been among
their individual descendants an equality far greater than any which has
been known on earth during historic times。 But that equality was at best
the infantile innocence of the primary race； which faded away in the race
as quickly； alas！ as it does in the individual child。 Divinetherefore it
was one of the first blessings which man lost； one of the last； I fear； to
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which he will return； that to which civilisation； even at its best yet known；
has not yet attained； save here and there for short periods； but towards
which it is striving as an ideal goal； and； as I trust； not in vain。
The eldest of things which we see actually as history is not equality；
but an already developed hideous inequality； trying to perpetuate itself；
and yet by a most divine and gracious law； destroying itself by the very
means which it uses to keep itself alive。
〃There were giants in the earth in those days。 And Nimrod began to
be a mighty one in the earth〃 …
A mighty hunter； and his game was man。
No； it is not equality which we see through the dim mist of bygone
ages。
What we do see isI know not whether you will think me superstitious
or old…fashioned； but so I holdvery much what the earlier books of the
Bible show us under symbolic laws。 Greek histories； Roman histories；
Egyptian histories； Eastern histories； inscriptions； national epics； legends；
fragments of legendsin the New World as in the Oldall tell the same
story。 Not the story without an end； but the story without a beginning。
As in the Hindoo cosmogony； the world stands on an elephant； and the
elephant on a tortoise； and the tortoise onwhat？ No man knows。 I do
not know。 I only assert deliberately； waiting； as Napoleon says； till the
world e round to me； that the tortoise does not standas is held by
certain anthropologists； some honoured by me； some personally dear to
meupon the savages who chipped flints and fed on mammoth and
reindeer in North…Western Europe； shortly after the age of ice； a few
hundred thousand years ago。 These sturdy little fellowsthe kinsmen
probably of the Esquimaux and Lappscould have been but the AVANT…
COURIERS； or more probably the fugitives from the true mass of
mankindspreading northward from the Tropics into climes being；
after the long catastrophe of the age of ice； once more genial enough to
support men who knew what decent fort was； and were strong enough
to get the same； by all means fair or foul。 No。 The tortoise of the
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human race does not stand on a savage。 The savage may stand on an
ape…like creature。 I do not say that he does not。 I do not say that he does。
I do not know； and no man knows。 But at least I say that the civilised
man and his world stand not upon creatures like to any savage now known
upon the earth。 For first； it seems to be most unlikely； and next； and
more important to an inductive philosopher； there is no proof of it。 I see
no savages being really civilised menthat is； not merely men who
will ape the outside of our so…called civilisation； even absorb a few of our
ideas； not merely that； but truly civilised men who will think for
themselves； invent for themselves； act for themselves； and when the sacred
lamp of light and truth has been passed into their hands； carry it on
unextinguished； and transmit it to their successors without running back
every moment to get it relighted by those from whom they received it：
and who are boundremember thatpatiently and lovingly to relight it for
them； to give freely to all their fellow…men of that which God has given to
them and to their ancestors； and let God； not man； be judge of how much
the Red Indian or the Polynesian； the Caffre or the Chinese； is capable of
receiving and of using。
Moreover； in history there is no record； absolutely no record； as far as I
am aware； of any savage tribe civilising itself。 It is a bold saying。 I
stand by my assertion： most happy to find myself confuted； even in a
single instance； for my being wrong would give me； what I can have no
objection to possess； a higher opinion than I have now； of the unassisted
capabilities of my fellow…men。
But civilisation must have begun somewhen； somewhere； with some
person； or some family； or some nation； and how did it begin？
I have said already that I do not know。 But I have had my dream
like the philosopherand as I have not been ashamed to tell it elsewhere； I
shall not be ashamed to tell it here。 And it is this：
What if the beginnings of true civilisation in this unique； abnormal；
diseased； unsatisfied； inprehensible； and truly miraculous and
supernatural race we call man； had been literally； and in actual fact；
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miraculous and supernatural likewise？ What if that be the true key to the
mystery of humanity and its origin？ What if the few first chapters of the
most ancient and most sacred book should point； under whatever symbols；
to the actual and the only possible origin of civilisation； the education of a
man； or a family by beings of some higher race than man？ What if the
old Puritan doctrine of Election should be even of a deeper and wider
application than divines have been wont to think？ What if individuals； if
peoples； have been chosen out from time to time for a special illumination；
that they might be the lights of the earth； and the salt of the world？ What
if they have； each in their turn； abused that divine teaching to make
themselves the tyrants； instead of the ministers； of the less enlightened？
To increase the inequalities of nature by their own selfishness； instead of
decreasing them； into the equality of grace； by their own self… sacrifice？
What if the Bible after all was right； and even more right than we were
taught to think？
So runs my dream。 If； after I have confessed to it； you think me still
worth listening to； in this enlightened nineteenth century； I will go on。
At all events； what we see at the beginning of all known and half…
known history； is not savagery； but high civilisation； at least of an outward
and material kind。 Do you demur？ Then recollect； I pray you； that the
three oldest peoples known to history on this planet are Egypt； China；
Hindostan。 The first glimpses of the world are always like those which
the book of Genesis gives us； like those which your own continent gives
us。 As it was 400 years ago in America； so it was in North Africa and in
Asia 4000 years ago； or 40；000 for aught I know。 Nay； if anyone should
askAnd why not 400；000 years ago； on Miocene continents long sunk
beneath the Tropic sea？ I for one have no rejoinder saveWe have no
proofs as yet。
There loom up； out of the darkness of legend； into the as yet dim dawn
of history； what the old Arabs call Races of pre…Adamite Sultanscolossal
monarchies； with fixed and often elaborate laws； customs； creeds； with
aristocracies； priesthoodsseemingly always of a superior and conquering
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race； with a mass of mon folk； whether free or half…free； posed of
older conquered races； of imported slaves too； and their descendants。
But whence es the royal race； the aristocracy； the priesthood？ You