the origin of the distinction of ranks-第28章
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ng or fishing； they have no means of obtaining so much wealth as will raise any one person greatly above his companions。 They are divided into small independent villages； in each of which there is a chief； who is their principal leader in war。 He bears the name of that particular tribe over which he presides； and in their public meetings he is known by no other。 His authority； though greater in some villages than in others； does not appear in any of them to be very considerable。 If he is never disobeyed； it is because he knows how to set bounds to his commands。 Every family has a right to name an assistant to the chief； and the several heads of families compose an assembly； or 'council of the elders'； which is accustomed to deliberate upon all matters of public importance。（14*） Each individual is allowed； in ordinary cases； to 'take up the hatchet'； as it is called； or make war upon those who have offended him。 Enterprises of moment； however； are seldom undertaken without the concurrence of the assembly。 Each family has a jurisdiction over its own members。 But the members of different families are at liberty to settle their differences in what manner they please； and the chief； or council； interfere only as mediators； or as arbiters； unless upon the commission of those enormous and extraordinary crimes which excite the general indignation； and which； from a sudden impulse of resentment； are instantly punished with severity。（15*） From the accounts which have been given of the wandering tribes of shepherds in different parts of the world； it would seem that their government is of the same nature； though the power of their leader is further advanced； according to the degrees of wealth which they enjoy。 In proportion to the extent of his herds and flocks； the chief is exalted above all the other members of the tribe； and has more influence in directing their military operations； in establishing their forms of judicial procedure； and in regulating the several branches of their public administration。 Thus the captain or leader of a tribe among the Hottentots； who have made but small progress in the pastoral life； and among the wild Arabs； who have seldom acquired considerable property； appears to have little more authority than among the savages of America。（16*） The great riches； on the other hand； which are frequenCy acquired by those numerous bands of shepherds inhabiting the vast country of Tartary； have rendered the influence of the chief proportionably extensive； and have bestowed upon him an almost unlimited power； which commonly remains in the same family； and is transmitted from father to son like a private inheritance。 The ancient German nations； described by Caesar and Tacitus； may be ranked in a middle situation between these extremes； having probably had more wealth than the Hottentots； or most of the wild Arabs； and less than the greater part of the Tartars。 While they remained in their own country； they were not altogether strangers to the cultivation of the ground； but they all led a wandering life； and seem to have had no idea of property in land； a sufficient proof that they drew their subsistence chiefly from their cattle； and regarded agriculture as only a secondary employment。 Their chiefs appear to have been either hereditary； or elected from those families who had been longest in the possession of opulent fortunes； but their military expeditions were frequently conducted by such inferior leaders； as happened to offer their service； and could persuade their companions to follow them。 In time of peace； justice was administered by the respective chiefs； or leading men； of the different villages。（17*） But when those barbarians had sallied forth from their native forests； and invaded the provinces of the Roman empire； they were soon led to a great improvement in their circumstances。 The countries which they conquered had been cultivated and civilized under the Roman dominion； and the inhabitants； though generally in a declining state； were still acquainted with husbandry and a variety of arts。 It was to be expected； therefore； that； while the Gothic invaders； during a long course of bloody wars； defaced the monuments of ancient literature； and wherever they came planted their own barbarous customs； they should； on the other hand； suddenly catch a degree of knowledge from the conquered people； and make a quicker progress in agriculture； and some of the coarser handicrafts connected with it； than they could have done in the natural course of things； had they been left to their own experience and observation。 By their repeated victories； different heads of families； or barons； were enabled to seize great landed estates。 They also acquired many captives in war； whom they reduced into servitude； and by whom they were put into a condition for managing their extensive possessions。 After the settlement of those nations was completed； the members of every large family came to be composed of two sorts of people； the slaves； acquired for the most part by conquest； and the free men； descended from a common ancestor； and maintained out of his estate。 The former were employed chiefly in cultivating their masters' grounds： the latter supported the interest and dignity of their leader； and in their turn were protected by him。 The authority of the baron was extremely absolute over all the members of his family； because they entirely depended upon him for subsistence。 He obliged his slaves to labour at pleasure； and allowed them such recompense only as he thought proper。 His kindred were under the necessity of following his banner in all his military expeditions。 He exercised over both a supreme jurisdiction； in punishing their offences； as well as in deciding their differences； and he subjected them to such regulations as he judged convenient； for removing disorders； or preventing future disputes。 These barons； though in a great measure independent； were early united in a larger society； under circumstances which gave rise to a very peculiar set of institutions。 The effect of that union； whence proceeded the system of feudal government in Europe； will fall to be considered in a subsequent part of this discourse。 NOTES： 1。 Mr Kolben relates； that one of the Dutch governors at the Cape of Good Hope brought up a Hottentot according to the fashions and customs of the Europeans； teaching him several languages； and instructing him fully in the principles of the Christian religion； at the same time clothing him handsomely； and treating him in all respects as a person for whom he had an high esteem； and whom he desired for some beneficial and honourable employment。 The governor afterwards sent him to Batavia where he was employed under the commissary for some time； till that gentleman died； and then he returned to the Cape of Good Hope。 But having paid a visit to the Hottentots of his acquaintance； he threw off all his fine clothes； bundled them up； laid them at the governor's feet and desired he might be allowed to renounce his Christianity； and to live and die in the religion and customs of his ancestors； only requesting that he might be permitted to keep the hanger and collar which he wore； in token of his regard to his benefactor。 While the governor was deliberating upon this； scarce believing the fellow to be in earnest； the young Hottentot took the opportunity of running away； and never afterwards came near the Cape； thinking himself happy that he had ex… changed his European dress for a sheep…skin； and that he had abandoned the hopes of preferment for the society of his relations and countrymen。 The English East…India Company made the like experiment upon two young Hottentots； but with no better success。 2。 'Whenever they went to war； and a captain had to be elected among them。 they took a large beam and put it on their shoulders one by one； and the one who carried it for the longest time was made their commander。 Many of them carried it for 4； 5； and 6 hours； but one of them finally carried it for 24 hours； and that one was recognized as their leader。' Voyage d'Olivier de Noort。 Recueil de voy。 qui ont servi a l'etab。 de la comp。 Dans les Indes Orient。 des Pais Bas。 3。 Montaigne's essays； p。 169。 Paris 1604；
