CHAPTER VI. 



LOST AETS OF PRIMITIVE RACES. 



NOTHING is more clearly shown by American analogies 

 than the illusory nature of the popular modes of 

 reasoning as to the progress of pre-historic races in 

 the arts, from the remains which they have left in the 

 soil. Chipped stone as distinguished from polished 

 stone may depend altogether on the material acces- 

 sible. The rudest and most savage tribes of hunters 

 may chip or grind their weapons more elaborately than 

 tribes far higher in general civilization. When metal 

 tools begin to come into use, the more elaborate and 

 costly kinds of stone implements cease to be made, 

 though some of the ruder ones may still be employed. 

 As tribes adopt settled habits and become agricultu- 

 rists, they may have less need for the carefully made 

 flint implements used in hunting, and less time to 

 make them. Long-continued peace and prosperity 

 will enable a tribe to accumulate stores of well-formed 

 weapons; sudden attacks or military reverses may 

 oblige them hastily to manufacture the rudest kinds in 

 order to resist their enemies. Arts long pursued and 

 carried to much perfection may, by the introduction 

 of new objects of trade, or from other causes, perish 

 and become forgotten in a single generation. Thus, 



