INFANTICIDE. The solicitude almost universally observed for the preservation of human life, has been subject to some remarkable exceptions in different ages, and in various parts of the world. Not only has the ordi nary course of nature been interrupted in restricting the intercourse of the sexes by positive ordinances, civil or ec clesiastical, but the latent embryo has been destroyed in its progress to maturity, and the infant consigned to death at the moment of beholding the light of day.
Parental affection seems so deeply rooted in mankind, by a wise provision for the protection of the offspring, that, without actual evidence, it would be difficult to credit the extent to which infanticide has extended.
It has been affirmed by some learned authors, that the sole purpose of nature in preserving the animal kingdom is the reproduction of the species. Yet, mankind, as if to disappoint her object, condemn themselves to celibacy, sometimes by vows of such a nature, that their infringe ment would be attended with the forfeiture of life. Nay, there are repeated instances of married persons having withdrawn from each other's society from similar motives. Mandelslo relates, that, in the island of Formosa, the wo men have no children until they are thirty-five or thirty six, from the impression they receive from their priest esses, that it were a great sin and shame for them to bear children before that age." Therefore, should they become pregnant previously, abortion is procured by violent means, and by the assistance of the priestesses themselves. The laws of Tunkin are so severe against having illicit off spring, that the same practice prevails; and it is thence so frequent, that there are women whose profession it is to facilitate and obtain abortion. It is said, by Kraschenini kow, that there are females in Kamschatka who use herbs and conjurations to prevent conception, and that they pro cure abortions by means of poisonous medicines, wherein they are assisted by skilful old women. 111‘Kenzie, the late traveller across the North American Continent, affirms that the women of the Knisteneaux frequently procure abortion to avoid the distress consequent on taking care of, and maintaining their children. The Eskimaux, in habiting the shores of Hudson's Bay, according to Ellis, constrain their wives to obtain frequent abortions for the same cause, by means of an herb common in that country: and an older author, Denys, says, that if a woman of North America became pregnant while suckling her child, she obtained abortion ; alleging, that nursing one at a time was enough. Other examples might be given ; for procuring abortion is common over the world, and must to a certain extent prevail, where misfortune or disgrace attend the birth of the offspring.
There is too great reason for considering these motives as the cause of infanticide where the child is actually born. The instances of it are innumerable, though arising also from different causes. Among the inhabitants of the Ku rile islands, it is customary to destroy one of twins. The American Indians, in the neighbourhood of Berbice, are said to do so, from believing that the birth of two children proves the infidelity of the mother. Kolben informs us, that the ugliest of Hottentot female twins is put to death, ender the pretext that a mother cannot suckle two females at once. At least one of twins was wont to be destroyed with the Karmschadales ; and in New Holland, the weakest and lightest is quickly suffocated by the mother.
As there is greater difficulty experienced in supportinn feeble and sickly children, or those labouring under pro• minent personal imperfections, so the parents have had less hesitation in bereaving them of existence. Diodorus relates, that all deformed children in Taprobana, which we suppose is Ceylon, were put to death. Quintus Cur tius says the same of those in the kingdom of Sophitus. Promising children were reared in Sparta : the others were destroyed ; not could parents spare those whom they chose, as they were submitted to the examination of cer tain persons, and, if weak or deformed, were thrown into u cavern. Gemelli Careri was told in Paragoa, one of the Philippine islands, that children born with which would apparently disable them from working, were put alive into a cane, and buried. These cruel ex pedients must he viewed as the result of necessity rather than of choice; because, in countries where each has to de • pend on his own personal exertion for a precarious sub sistence, there is no room to provide for the helpless. It has even been seen, that, by a barbarous custom, originat ing from a similar source, when a man perished, his widow and orpharrs-were put to death ; not from the desire of shedding blood, but because the survivors had no means of supporting them. In Greenland, when the mother of an infant at the breast died, the child was buried along with her, if the father and relations could not find a nurse. At the present day, it seems an invariable practice of the savages of New Holland, to inter the sucking infant in the same grave with its departed mother ; nay, the father is the first to heap the earth over the bodies of both. No con cern is testified by the relatives for its fate. They seem satisfied that this is what ought to be done ; for their own helpless condition deprives them of the means of providing for a being still more helpless than themselves.