[103] MacGregor, ‘Lagos, Abeokuta, and the Alake,’ in Jour. African Soc. 1904, p. 466.
[104] Burckhardt, Notes on the Bedouins and Wahábys, p. 205.
Many of the elements out of which patriotism proper has grown are clearly distinguishable among savages, even the very lowest. We have previously noticed the savage’s attachment to members of his own community or tribe. Combined with this is his love of his native place, and of the mode of life to which he is habituated. There is a touching illustration of this feeling in the behaviour of the wild boy who had been found in the woods near Aveyron—where he had spent most part of his young life in perfect isolation from all human beings—when he, after being removed to Paris, was once taken back to the country, to the vale of Montmorence. Joy was painted in his eyes, in all the motions and postures of his body, at the view of the hills and the woods of the charming valley; he appeared more than ever restless and savage, and “in spite of the most assiduous attention that was paid to his wishes, and the most affectionate regard that was expressed for him, he seemed to be occupied only with an anxious desire of taking his flight.”[105] How much greater must not the love of home be in him who has there his relatives and friends! Mr. Howitt tells us of an Australian native who, on leaving his camp with him for a trip of about a week, burst into tears, saying to himself once and again, “My country, my people, I shall not see them.”[106] The Veddahs of Ceylon “would exchange their wild forest life for none other, and it was with the utmost difficulty that they could be induced to quit even for a short time their favourite solitude.”[107] The Stiêns of Cambodia are so strongly attached to their forests and mountains that to leave them seems almost like death.[108] Solomon Islanders not seldom die from home-sickness on their way to the Fiji or Queensland plantations.[109] The Hovas of Madagascar, when setting out on a journey, often take with them a small portion of their native earth, on which they gaze during their absence, invoking their god that they may be permitted to return to restore it to the place from which it was taken.[110] Mr. Crawfurd observes that in the Malay Archipelago the attachment to the native spot is strongest with the agricultural tribes;[111] but, though a settled life is naturally most favourable to its development, this feeling is not inconsistent with nomadism. The Nishinam, who are the most nomadic of all the Californian tribes, have very great attachment for the valley or flat which they count their home.[112]
[105] Itard, Account of the Discovery and Education of a Savage Man, p. 70 sqq.
[106] Brough Smyth, Aborigines of Victoria, ii. 305.
[107] Hartshorne, ‘Weddas,’ in Indian Antiquary, viii. 317.
[108] Mouhot, Travels in the Central Parts of Indo-China, i. 243.
[109] Guppy, op. cit. p. 167.
[110] Ellis, History of Madagascar, i. 141.
[111] Crawfurd, History of the Indian Archipelago, i. 84.