48 THE GEOLOGIST. 



gical Museums at Copenhagen,* and to those of Mr. Nielssen, profes- 

 sor at the flourishing University of Lund, in Sweden.f These illus- 

 trious veterans of the school of northern antiquarians have ascer- 

 tained that Europe, at present so civilized, was at first inhabited by- 

 tribes to whom the use of metal was totally unknown, and whose in- 

 dustry and domestic habits must have borne a considerable analogy 

 to what we now see practised among certain savages. Bone, horn, 

 and chiefly flint, were then used, instead of metal, for manufacturing 

 cutting-instruments and arms. This was the Stone-age, which 

 might also be called the first great phase of civilization. 



The earliest settlers in Europe apparently brought with them 

 the art of producing fire. By striking iron-pyrites (sulphuret of 

 iron) against quartz, fire can be easily obtained. But this method 

 can only have been occasionally used, and seems to have been con- 

 fined to some native tribes in Terra del Euego. J The usual mode has 

 been evidently that of rubbing two sticks together ; but, on further 

 reflection, it is easy to perceive that this was a most difficult dis- 

 covery, and must at all events have been preceded by a knowledge of 

 the use of fire as derived from the efiects of lightning or from vol- 

 canic action. 



The Stone-age was, therefore, probably preceded by a period per- 

 haps of some length, during which man was unacquainted Tsdth the 

 art of producing fire. This, according to Mr. Flourens, indicates 

 that the cradle of mankind was situated in a warm climate. § 



The art of producing fire has been perhaps the greatest achieve- 

 ment of human intelligence. The use of fire lies at the root of 

 almost every species of industry ; it enables the savage to fell trees, 



* " Ledetraad til Nordisk Oldkyndiglied." Copenliagen, 1836. Published in 

 English by Lord Ellesmere under the title of " A Guide to Northern Antiquities," 

 London, 1848. 



t Nielsson. " Scandinaviska Nordens Urinvonare." Lund, 1838-1843. 

 X WeddeU, " A Voyage towards the South Pole in 1822-1824." London, 1827. 

 P. 167. 



§ Flouren's " De la Longevite Huniaine." Paris, 1855. P. 127. IMan, from the 

 construction of his teeth, his stomach, and his intestines, is primitively frugivorous, 

 like the monkey. But the frugivorous diet is the most unfavom-able, because it 

 constrains its followers perpetually to abide in those countries wliich produce 

 IVuit at all seasons, consequently in warm climates. But, once the ai't of cook- 

 ing introduced, and applied both to animal and vegetable productions, man could 

 extend and vary the nature of his diet. Man has consequently two diets : the 

 first is primitive, natural, and instinctive, and by it he is frugivorous ; the second 

 is artificial, being due entirely to his intelligence, and by this he is omnivorous. 



