CHAPTEK VII. 



EXCHANGE. 



754. DISTRIBUTION and Exchange necessarily originate 

 together; being, in their simplest forms, parts of the same 

 process. Hence we must go back to the point from which 

 the last chapter but one set out, and trace up a correlative 

 series of phenomena. 



As with organic phenomena so with super-organic phe 

 nomena, study from the evolution point of view introduces 

 us to stages earlier and simpler than any we had conceived. 

 A striking illustration is yielded by the first stages of ex 

 change. 



Among incidents of human intercourse few seem simpler 

 than barter; and the underlying conception is one which 

 even the stupidest among savages are supposed to under 

 stand. It is not so, however. In Part IY of this work, treat 

 ing of Ceremonial Institutions, reasons were given for sus 

 pecting that barter arose from the giving of presents and the 

 receipt of presents in return. Beyond the evidence there 

 assigned there is sufficient further evidence to justify this 

 conclusion. In the narrative of an early voyager, whose 

 name I do not remember, occurs the statement that barter 

 was not understood by the Australian savages : a statement 

 which I recollect thinking scarcely credible. Verifying tes 

 timonies have, however, since come to hand. Concerning 

 the New Guinea people we read: 



&quot; One of the most curious features noticed by Dr. Miklucho Maclay 

 was the apparent absence of trade or barter among the people of 



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