Note 56 — Chapter III · PASTORAL TRIBES.

We see that, wherever men subsist by cattle-breeding, a peculiar characteristic of economic life presents itself. This characteristic is not the existence of wealth; for wealth also exists among the tribes of the Pacific Coast of North America; yet on the Pacific Coast slave labour is of great use. It is the existence of poverty. On the Pacific Coast the “abundant natural supplies in ocean, stream, and forest” enable each man, be he rich or not, to provide for himself; but among pastoral tribes the means of subsistence are the property of individuals; and those who own no cattle have no resource but to apply to the owners for support56. Therefore, if labourers are wanted, there are always freemen who readily offer their services; and there is no great use for slave labour57.