333 



THE HUMAN SPECIES 



to the stage, or by means of a man who swam behind and 

 pushed the boat onwards, as is still the ancient custom in use 

 on the Albanian lakes. Others again may have discovered 

 that the bark of a strong tree removed en masse, fastened 

 together fore and aft, and fitted with cross pieces floated capit- 

 ally in water, and could carry at least one man, although great 

 care was required to maintain equilibrium. Thus the first 

 canoe was built. Under all circumstances, however, the solid 

 tree-trunk must have inspired the most confidence, especially 

 when hollowed out both in order to reduce its weight and to 



provide places for the rowers and 

 for various appliances used on 

 fishing and hunting expeditions. 

 The hollowing out was probably 

 accomplished by means of flint 

 axes, the holes being further en- 

 larged by burning with fire and 

 then scraped out with sharp stones 

 and shells. Neolithic canoes, two 

 to five metres long, formed from 

 tree-trunks, have been dug up at 

 Robenhausen, Glasgow, and St. 

 Valery (Somme) (Fig. 164). 



Such craft have long remained 

 in the service of man, for even 

 to-day in the Bavarian and Aus- 

 trian lakes the fishermen and 

 boatmen use the old solid tree- 

 stems instead of boats put together by the art of the carpenter. 

 The rudder consisted at first of a wooden paddle, widened at 

 one end, and was used either standing or sitting ; it naturally 

 permitted of very little actual steering. Sails were first used 

 later on, when men had learnt to build larger canoes, or ships 

 put together with planks, and caulked, and furnished at times 

 with keels. And with this was combined the use of a movable 

 rudder, attached to the stern of the ship. In such vessels man 

 could navigate not only rivers and lakes, but also the sea itself, 

 by cautious voyages along the coast, till at length, by additions 

 to his invention, he could attempt further sea voyages, and so 



FIG. 163. Inflated goat's hide for a 

 boat. (Corr. Bl.f, Anthr., 1904.) 



