310 THE ASCENT OF MAN 



way have played an important part in Evolution. 

 But the Co-operations brought about by Repro- 

 duction are at once more radical, more universal, 

 and more efficient. The Struggle for Life is in 

 part a disruptive force. The Struggle for the 

 Life of Others is wholly a social force. The 

 social efforts of the first are secondary; those of 

 the last are primary. And had it not been for 

 the stronger and unbreakable bond which the 

 Struggle for the Life of Others introduced into 

 the world, the organization of Societies had never 

 even been begun. How subtly Reproduction effects 

 its purpose an illustration will make plain. And 

 we shall select it again from the lowest world of 

 life, so that the fundamental nature of this factor 

 may be once more vindicated on the way. 



More than two thousand years ago Herodotus 

 observed a remarkable custom in Egypt. At a 

 certain season of the year the Egyptians went 

 into the desert, cut off branches from the wild 

 palms, and, bringing them back to their gardens, 

 waved them over the flowers of the date-palm. 

 Why they performed this ceremony they did not 

 know ; but they knew that if they neglected it 

 the date crop would be poor or wholly lost. 

 Herodotus offers the quaint explanation that along 

 with these branches there came from the desert 



