344 THE TROGLODYTES. 



j^eology, and, in order to explain this phenomenon, it is not necessary to 

 iutrodnce any other influence than that of man. Our hunters of the rein- 

 deer, with their peaceable mode of life and their light weapons, were not 

 prepared for combat, and not in a condition to resist attack, so that their 

 buddiiis' civilization yielded immediately when their valleys were in- 

 vaded by tribes better equipped for war; perhaps already in possession 

 of the polished ax. Then, as now, might was right. 



APPENDIX. 



EXCURSION TO THE EYZIES. 



At 5 o'clock a special train carried seventy-two excursionists; the 

 sun arose in splendor and announced a beautiful day. The road as far 

 as Periguex presented little to attract attention, and animated conver- 

 sation beguiled the time until at G o'clock we entered the celebrated 

 valley of the V^zere, and stopped at the station of the Eyzies. 



After partaking of an excellent repast prepared for us, at 11 o'clock 

 we climbed the steep sides of the eminence which overlooks the present 

 village, on the banks of the Beune, and, surrounding M. Louis Lartet, 

 were so fortuuate as to hear a detailed account of the discoveries which 

 have rendered so illustrious the cave of the Eyzies, where his father, 

 our regretted master, with the aid of Christy, commenced his series of 

 distinguished explorations. 



■ The cave still contains numerous osseous fragments, in which are 

 mingled pieces of bone, flint implements, rounded or angular pebbles 

 and schistose plates of rock, for the most part foreign to the valley. 

 Many a museum has been enriched by similar fragments from the 

 Eyzies by MM. Ed. Lartet and Christy, and we were each allowed to col- 

 lect some specimens. In this cave were found the first drawings of the 

 age of the reindeer. (August, 1SG3.) 



Near the entrance of the cave, upon the lateral and exterior prolonga- 

 tion of the platform are traces of artificial constructions, of a relatively 

 very recent i)eriod. A stable was partly suspended in the air, and 

 covered, doubtless, with a pent-house roof supported in holes in the rock 

 which still exist. 



We then proceeded to Cromagnon, a place very celebrated in the 

 annals of science. In 1868 the construction of the railroad necessitated 

 the removal of an enormous talus at the base of the rocks on the left 

 shore of the Vezere, and at the bottom of a cave so shallow it might 

 rather be called a hollow, some human bones were discovered. M. Louis 

 Lartet was immediately sent to the place by the minister of public in- 

 struction, and found that there were four superposed strata blackened 

 by fire. 



In all these strata were the same industrial implements, flint chiefly 

 shaped into scrapers, instruments of bone, bodkins, arrows, &c., and 



