The Warwickshire Herald. — 1888-02-09 (Birmingham, West Midlands, England)

SIR JOHN LUBBOCK ON SAVAGES.  On Saturday Sir John Lubbock delivered at the Working Men's College, by request of the council the lecture on Savages which he recently gave at the Victoria Hall, varying, howevei, the subjects selected and many of the illustrations. He alluded to the importance of our understanding the ideas and manners of the lower races. considering how much we come in contact with them in violet's hart' of the world. SOlfleraceshoo ebserved, pull your nose as a cornplhnent, and hiss you if they approve what you are saying. In China a coffin is said to be considered an appropriate present for an aged relative, especially if in had health. To extend the hands one in front of the other is an attitude of defiance among us,but with some of the Indian hill tribes, it is a sign of gratitude and respect. He mentioned that a friend of his once tried three men belonging to one of the hill tribes on a charge of murder. Not being satisfied that they were guilty, be acquitted them, whereupon they all placed their hands in this position. Everyone in court, including the Hindus. evhose ideas are the same as ours, burst out laughing, and the judge WAS nearly committing them for contempt of court, but, noticing the grave expression on their faces, thought it better Co take no notice. It was not until some years after that he found they were really exhibiting their respect and gratitude for British justice. Sir John then described the ideas of marriage and relationship. Ile alluded to the prevalence of marriage by capture, and observed that it seemed to account for the high position (weepier! by Hellen in the"lliad." Paris having captured her she wimaccordjug to the ideas of the time, his wife, and was accordingly treated with all respect by all the Trojans, a fact which he thought could not be otherwise' explained. At the same time the laws as to marriage were very strict among images, and marrittee within the forbidden degrees was very severely punished. Sir John then described the origin toad development of religion among the lower races, observing that, however mistaken their ideas might be, they were entitled to respect at honest endeavours to learn the truth. Moreover, we might learn a lesson from the manner in which they acted up to their ideas, such as they were. The Fijians' for instance, believed that they rose again after death in the same state as that in which they died. Consequently everyone was put to death, with their own consent, and generally by their own children, as SOOll as the slightest indication of old age. made its appearance. Savages generally soffered dreadfully from the fear of witchcraft—a terror'cry prevalent even in Europe until lately, and from which w- had only been fully delivered by the progress of science. Finally, he. observed that it was satisfactory to find that on the whole thee history of man was one of prOgreSl4, toad that we might fairly look forward to the future with confidence and hope.  A strange phenomenon has been obser Yea 6,tween chi, towns of .Egituti and Patras. thiet4 the ranges of bills,on the slopes of whieh the new niilway passes, is moving gradually towards the ,ea. Oil the slimes -above the railway great fissures have appeared. The soil is stiff clay. As a precaution passengers are obliged to descend and walk about 80 yards, whilst the train pruceeds slowly over the uncertain part of the line. Engineers have been sent to investigate the matter.  LEWIS CROFTERS SENT TO PRISON In Edinburgh, Lord Craighill, has passed sentence of inprisonment for terms varying from six to 15 inoutlis on tlreill convicted crofters—nine months in the case af the two women. The severity of the ponishment ordered evoked expressions of disapprobation in court, but the leArned judge said the defiance of the law in the imrth could no longer be tolerated.