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CHAPTER XIV. 



CONCLUDING REMARKS. 



I HAVE already expressed my belief that the simpler arts 

 and implements have been independently invented by 

 various tribes, and in very different parts of the world. Even 

 at the present day we may, I think, obtain glimpses of the 

 manner in which they were, or may have been, invented. Some 

 monkeys are said to use clubs, and to throw sticks and stones 

 at those who intrude upon them. We know that they use 

 round stones for cracking nuts, and surely a very small step 

 would lead from that to the application of a sharp stone for 

 cutting. When the edge became blunt, it would be thrown 

 away, and another chosen ; but after awhile .accident, if not 

 reflection, would show, that a round stone would crack other 

 stones, as well as nuts, and thus the savage would learn to 

 make sharp-edged stones for himself. At first, as we see in 

 the drift specimens, these would be coarse and rough, but 

 gradually the pieces chipped off would become smaller, the 

 blows would be more cautiously and thoughtfully given, and 

 at length it would be found that better work might be done 

 by pressure than by blows. From pressure to polishing 

 would again be but a small step. In making flint imple- 

 ments sparks would be produced ; in polishing them it would 

 not fail to be observed that they became hot, and in this 

 way it is easy to see how the two methods of obtaining fire 

 may have originated. 



