"MANKIND IN THE MAKING" 25 



Whether primitive man was monogamous or polygamous, 

 or whether he practised promiscuity, are themes which 

 have exercised the minds of the most ingenious since the 

 custom of making books began, and the most diverse 

 conclusions have been arrived at. In coming to any 

 conclusion on this subject probability based on what we 

 know of the higher apes can be the only standard of argu- 

 ment. In these animals monogamy is the rule, the male 

 and female with their young roaming at large in a family 

 party. Occasionally, however, a male is seen accom- 

 panied by two females, and this is only what we should 

 expect. The Apes are not very prolific animals nor 

 are they numerous in individuals, hence, should any male 

 be killed either in combat with a rival or by any other 

 means, his mate probably wanders in search of another 

 male, by whom, when found, she is probably readily 

 adopted even if he should be already mated. 



In like manner lived our half-human progenitors. But 

 with them family parties no longer wandered aimlessly 

 searching for food, but with a purpose. No longer forest 

 dwellers, or vegetarians, food would require more zeal and 

 discrimination in collecting, and shelter of some kind had 

 probably to be devised, partly as a protection against 

 predatory animals, and partly for personal comfort, since 

 ^it would now have become apparent that this could be 

 appreciably increased by the exercise of a little effort 

 and ingenuity. This appreciation of creature comforts 

 formed a cement holding the family together ; a sense of 

 safety in Society helped still further. Rude tools chipped 

 from flints were among their earliest and most cherished 

 possessions for the sake of the advantages they secured. 

 Here was the earliest form of wealth and the birth of 

 labour and a further step on the road to progress. Little 



