CHAPTER III 



Development, Food and Decline — Shooting and 

 Netting the Birds ' 



WHEREVER the cradle of the human race may 

 have been, their migrations; we may be sure, 

 led them by forest routes to forest countries, and it 

 was only in recent times that the plains attracted them. 

 Shelter and fuel were necessities, which only the for- 

 est could furnish. Food for his meagre diet was 

 there abundant and was his for the simple effort of 

 taking from the great orchard of bountiful Nature, 

 whatever appealed to his appetite and his pleasure. 



Upon the north shores of rivers, lakes and seas, 

 where the sun warmed him and where the plants re- 

 sponded earliest to the warm rays from that orb of the 

 day, and chief deity in his wonder and imagination, he 

 found his garden in full blossom, the waters swarming 

 with fish. Succulent roots in the sandy soil supplied 

 the starchy food he required and back in the forest, 

 fat young pigeons fell from the trees to supply his de- 

 sire for flesh and qil. 



From the forest he gathered fuel for his fire, poles 

 and boughs for a lodge to protect him from storm 

 and cold, and weapons for defense from the serpents 

 and predatory animals. He found fruit and nuts 

 hanging upon the trees and the winds shook them until 

 they dropped at his feet. In the cool water he bathed 



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