Saturday, April 18, 2009

Civilisation and Evolution

Orundellico, Jemmy Button, grew up in Tierra del Fuego and belonged to the Yaghan people. Captain FitzRoy of the HMS Beagle took him to England after taking hostages in 1830. They returned to their homeland on the Beagle when Charles Darwin made his famous voyage. When he returned to his homeland he took up the habits that he had learned as a child and gave up the habits of a cultured English gentleman. Darwin was disgusted and stated that this happened because these people were closer to the apes and unable to appreciate the true benefits of civilization. Poor Jemmy, he just preferred his own culture and habits to those of his kidnappers.


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