Longhead: The Story of the First FireRobinson, C. H. (Charles Henry)
Science
Longhead: The Story of the First Fire
Robinson, C. H. (Charles Henry)
Industries, Primitive; Prehistoric peoples
It was entirely natural to primitive man that in the spring the trees
and plants should bud and send forth leaves and blossoms, to be followed
later by fruit, "each after its kind." This, also, had always occurred
from his earliest recollection and that of his elders, and it occasioned
no thought upon his part. It was only when floods, drouths and other
calamities interfered with this orderly sequence of events that any
mystery was presented or any thought required. It is clear that among
these common and natural occurrences, which were simply accepted without
question because they had always happened, must be classed the bringing
forth of young by all mammals. Man had always observed that the females
of all the animals about him brought forth young, "each after its kind."
This was to be expected and gave him no surprise, nor, in the then
condition of his intellect, did it give rise to a thought as to its
cause. Likewise, his own womankind gave birth to young, from time to
time, just as did the other animals, and there was no cause for
speculation or thought in regard to this; the occurrence was too common
to be a mystery.
There being then no knowledge of fatherhood, there were no fathers, and
for many generations no relatives were known except in the female line.
Consequently, there was no family hearthstone; no paternal love; no
marriage. The relations of the sexes was purely physical and were
generally indiscriminate, as opportunity might afford; but doubtless,
with some, this companionship was continued for a longer or shorter
period, as circumstances or congeniality might induce.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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