What Greece was to the ancient world, Europe has been on a larger scale to the modern; elaborating in various distinct states a civilisation continually improving by intercourse, and each having its turn to be uppermost. The race thus educated has been spreading and assuming the mastery over vast regions abounding in vegetable and mineral wealth. The useful animals, as well as the arts, which were so much needed, have accompanied the conquering people; but the inferior races seem doomed to die out, rather than to be raised and improved by the change.

SUMMARY.-Different races of men have at different times excelled in civilisation. Very much of this advance has depended on geographical circumstances. Those parts of the world which afford the best opportunities for agriculture, which have most rivers and longest coast, have generally been the seats of the highest civilisation. The most ancient civilisations known were those of Egypt and Mexico. Subsequently arose the great Asian communities of China and Japan, whose advance, however, only reached a certain stage, and then ceased. This was probably owing to their geographical isolation. The more accessible communities in Western Asia and Africa became great kingdoms, such as Egypt, Assyria, Babylonia, and Persia. Greece next became the centre from which literature and civilisation spread over Europe. Great Britain and America are the leaders of the world's progress.

QUESTIONS.

What were the most ancient seats of civilisation? What geographical features are most favourable to civilisation? Name the ancient communities of Asia; notice a remarkable feature in their case, and account for it. Explain the different degrees of civilisation to be noticed in the Mongols. Which were the

great kingdoms of Western Asia? In the gradual civilisation of Europe, which countries have led? What were the distinctive functions of Greece and Rome in that process? In what respect does Europe resemble ancient Greece ?

Remarkable examples of the depth of degradation into which some of the human race have fallen, and of the progress of civilisation even among some of the lowest in the scale, are to be found in Mr Moffat's "Scenes in Africa." This excellent man has devoted his life to teach and improve the natives of South Africa. He gives an account of his own work and that of others who had laboured in the same good cause. Many of the natives, who were sunk in the depths of degradation, were by degrees induced to

wear decent clothing, and to cultivate the ground, and they were taught European trades. Their language was first written, books were translated into it, and the printing-press was introduced. Mr Moffat thus describes some of the native tribes :—

THE BUSHMEN." They have neither house nor shed, neither flocks nor herds. Their most delightful home is "afar in the desert," the unfrequented mountain pass, or the secluded recesses of a cave or ravine. They remove from place to place, as convenience or necessity requires. The man takes his spear and suspends his bow and quiver on his shoulder; while the woman frequently, in addition to the burden of a helpless infant, carries a mat, an earthen pot, a number of ostrich egg-shells, and a few ragged skins, bundled on her head or shoulder. Accustomed to a migratory life, and entirely dependent on the chase for a precarious subsistence, they have contracted habits which could scarcely be credited of human beings. Hunger compels them to feed on everything edible. The core of aloes, gum of acacias, and several other plants and berries, some of which are extremely unwholesome, constitute their fruits of the field; while almost every kind of living creature is eagerly devoured-lizards, locusts, and grasshoppers not excepted. The poisonous, as well as innoxious serpents, they roast and eat. They cut off the head of the former, which they dissect, and carefully extract the bags or reservoirs of poison, which communicate with the fangs of the upper jaw. They mingle it with the milky juice of the euphorbia, or with that of a poisonous bulb.

After simmering for some time on a slow fire, it acquires the consistency of wax, with which they cover the points of their arrows. Their manner of life is extremely wretched and disgusting. They delight to besmear their bodies with the fat of animals, mingled with ochre, and sometimes with grime. They are utter strangers to cleanliness, as they never wash their bodies, but suffer the dirt to accumulate, so that it will hang a considerable length from their elbows. Their huts are formed by digging a hole in the earth about three feet deep, and then making a roof of reeds, which is, however, insufficient to keep off the rain.

"The Bechuanas are much superior to the Bushmen, but are also in a most degraded condition.

66 They could not see that there was anything in our customs better than their own, but would at the same time admit that we are a wiser and superior race of beings to themselves. They said, 'The white people are so much wiser than we are, in making walking-houses (waggons), teaching the oxen to draw them over hill and dale, and instructing them also to plough the gardens, instead of making their wives do it, like the Bechuanas.' But notwithstanding these concessions, they would, with little ceremony, pronounce our customs clumsy, awkward, and troublesome. They could not account for our putting our legs, feet, and arms into bags, and using buttons for the purpose of fastening bandages round our bodies, instead of suspending them as ornaments from the neck or hair of the head. Washing the body, instead of lubricating it with grease and red ochre, was a

disgusting custom; and cleanliness about our food, house, and bedding contributed to their amusement in no small degree. A native, who was engaged roasting a piece of fat zebra flesh for me on the coals, I was told that he had better turn it with a stick or fork instead of his hands, which he invariably rubbed on his dirty body for the sake of the precious fat. This suggestion made him and his companions laugh extravagantly, and they were wont to repeat it as an interesting joke wherever they came."

THE CULTIVATION OF THE GROUND.-" In wandering about with them (the natives) we constantly endeavoured to impress upon their minds the superior advantages they would derive from cultivating the ground, and having fixed habitations. After a considerable time had elapsed, we prevailed upon them to try the experiment, and a commencement was made. This event was preceded and followed by a great and visible improvement among them as a body. Considering the circumstances of the people, much land was cultivated at this time; and in the following years the land under cultivation was much increased. I have seen the whole valley, from the Fountain to the Lion's Den, which must include four square miles, covered with corn and barley."

LEARNING TO MAKE CLOTHING.-"Hitherto a sewing-school had been uncalled for, the women's work being that of building houses, raising fences, and cultivating the ground; while the lords of the creation, for their own convenience and comfort, had from time immemorial added to their pursuits the exercise of