336 THE TROGLODYTES. 



have just noticed, the troglodytes, though a large eommuuity, lived 

 at ease. Food was so abuudaut that they could select the better parts, 

 and reject those inferior in quality. Thus they disdained the feet of 

 animals, which contain, between the bones and tendons, a considerable 

 amount of alimentary matter, and we find in their caves entire feet of 

 the deer, with every bone in place, as perfect as those of the skeletons 

 of our museums. They were evidently cast aside as undesirable for 

 food, a fact which shows that the sources of subsistence more than sup- 

 plied actual need. The destruction of the dangerous animals had insured 

 safety, and tlie perfection of the chase secured abnndauce of food. The 

 more urgent necessities of life no longer reqnired an entire consecration 

 of the activity, intelligence, and time of the tribe. Leisure hours were 

 possible, and leisure, combined with intelligence, engenders the arts. 



IV. — The aets of the troglodytes. 



To Egypt no longer belongs the distinction of having originated the 

 arts. We learned a few years ago, to our great astonishment, that the 

 men of the age of the reindeer practiced dra^^ing, carving, and even sculp- 

 ture. At first their efforts received only our admiration ; but now, the 

 excitement of discovery over, we must confess there were some verj- 

 bad artists among them. Still, although a large number of the draw- 

 ings are very crude, resembling the rude sketches made by idle children 

 with charcoal upon our walls, there are some truly remarkable, indi- 

 cating not only a skillful hand, but an eye accustomed to the observa- 

 tion of nature. 



Drawing, with these people, undoubtedly preceded sculpture. Fig- 

 ures in relief are much more rare and less perfect than those made by 

 lines. The latter are found quite frequently at the Eyzies, and at Lower 

 Laugerie, but are particularly abundant at the Madelaine, where they 

 are also much more correct. 



All the di"awings are made with indented lines, that is, etched, and for 

 the most part ornament various objects of reindeer horn, such as the 

 commanders' batons, or the handles of poignards. There are some, 

 however, made upon certain plates of ivory or horn, which could have 

 been intended for no other i^urpose than to receive and display the work 

 of the artist. (See Fig. 12 and Fig. 22.) 



Almost all the drawings are of natural objects, although there are 

 some merely ornamental lines, forming zigzags and festoons of more or 

 less elegance; and, with the exception of three rose-like leaves engraved 

 upon the handle of deer's horn, which seem intended to represent a poly- 

 petal flower, they are principally of animals. The reindeer most fre- 

 quently api)ears, then the horse ; the ox and the urus more seldom. 

 These animals are readily recognizable. Their characteristics are repro- 

 duced with gieat accuracy, and often with elegance ; frequently they are 

 isolated figures, covering without order, and in great numbers, the entire 

 surface of an instrument, but sometimes they are foi'med into groups, 

 and are seen in combat, or flying before man. 



