The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-01-24

lous facility in reading the track OF
animals and men on the sand and even
o. the rock az which the Australian Is
unrivalled
III.
our authorities are by no means in
life Of the individual may be regarded
as instructive. without any very clear
knowledge of what an instinct may ne
we find it convenient to employ that
hypothesis in accounting for the be-
ginning of the activities of the lower
animal. we find it fattering to our esti-
mate Of human intelligence to reduce
the operation of instinct as far as pos
sible in discussing the ways and means
of man.
In this work we are to observe the
lack OF intelligence in the possession of
the Australian blackfellow in two items
which are close to the province in which
instinct, if it be admitted as a human
possession, might he expected to be
found operative
1t is by no means easy to establish
the point in the evolution or acquisition
Of human Ideas at which the need Of
shelter becomes operative. Inasmuch
as climate is a constant, frequently a
most inconvenient, element of environ
ment We might regard its avoidance
as instructive. the more particularly
since the lower animals are singularly
responsive to this motive. In the hui
man animal the climate factor operates
along two lines, the shelter which gives
the germ Of the house idea and leads in
evitably to the family home and the
most important sentiments aCtuating
society the portable shelter which gives
the germ Of clothing and ornament ap-
piled to the person in stars and garters.
The Australians of this study are lack
ing ia the shelter sense Of either type.
We have noted that the house type is
represented at no higher stage than the
mere brush heap serving as a wind
break and the hut or box Of bark
which may serve to keep out the mos
quito. The Australians do not use cave
shelters startling contrast with the
primitivcs of the most ancient European
culture whose cave remains have sun
piled us with all that We know Of our
ancient predecessors and whose art re-
mains lately exposed at Altamira and
other stations tend to increase our re-
gard for the spirit which entered into
their life and found this vivid express
sion. In the present state of the black
fellow this avoidance Of cave shelters
is conditioned by the belief in spirits
working evil Theology We are sure Is
developed later than the primal press
If need. therefore we are justified IN
regarding the stunning Of the caves as
earlier than the present explanation
With the caves untcnanted. with the
present house idea represented by III
more than temporary makeshfts. it s
safe to say that the Australian Wa
| lacking in this sense Of shelter
In like manner with the portable shell
ter He goes unClad. such articles as he
adds to the coat of his own skin are
| solely ornamental. decorative: they lack
wholly tn" shelter sense Of protection
against the climate. II is a climate
which hints protection in no uncertai In
4 fashion. The sun by day burns the ali
! by night falls nearly to Freezing Vet
neither extreme has suggested to the
! blaCkfeiIow the simple means Of assum.
Eng protection which might be readily
! laid aside when the need was no longer
felt. Prof Spencer points out the fact
| that though the pelt Of kangaroos is q
| frequent waste product Of their domes.
tic economy not one of these Austria
iianS has arrived at the point or discov.
ering that this reject skin could b,
hung from his neck as protection
from the singing rain or from tn,
sCorching rays Il the sun. II Is MOI
that they are Indifferent to the inclem
ences Of the weather. they feel IN,
troubles of their climate with a create,
exposure of skin area which may un
derGO discomfort. In the northern coas
land which lies within the tropics tn,
rain is a thing to be dreaded. it fan
with such violence as to cause consider
able distress upon the uncovered skin
and it falls from such an atmosphere
altitude that its temperature is pain
fully low and productive Of symptom
attic chill II is clearly the case in thi
matter Of clothing as it is in the cas-
of house shelter that the Australian
mind suffers Inconvenience in the yer,
presence Of the remedy. simply hecaus
ii has not reached the stage fantel
lectual activity which can discover tn
remedial value of that which lie, neg
lected The aboriginal is incapable q
thinking roof or robe. though bot
are ready to his hand