Natural history / by J.G. Wood.

  • Wood, J. G. (John George), 1827-1889.
Date:
[1854 or 1855]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Natural history / by J.G. Wood. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    gracefully in tlie erect posture as many of the performers at Astley’s do on their hands, which arc apparently less fitted for walking than those of the ape. . -i The power of the thumb is mimh greater in man than in the apes; it is by means of this instrument that man is able to handle large or objects, to wield a sword or a pen, to cast a spear or thread a neeme. There are also many auatomical differences which need not be de- scribed. . . , f. The intellectual power in man shows its supremacy over the instinct ot the ape in many ways. We will take as our example of mankind, the most abject of the human race, the Bosjesman, as represented at the commencement of this cliapter. Surely the slain lion wms not destroyed by an ape. No ape or monkey was ever able to manufacture wmapons for itself. It may, indeed, take up a stick or a stone and defend itseh vio-orously,* but it could never form a bow and arrow, mudi less reflect that the juices of certain jilants rubbed on the points of its -ireapoiis would cause inevitable death to any person wmunded by them. Yet the dimiautive Bosjesman, who is far lower in intellect, and much less civil- ized than the calumniated Negro, boldly attacks, with perfect certainty of success, an animal before which the most intelligent ape that ever lived would fly in helpless terror. Neither can an ape procure fire, nor even renew it. it will sit de- lighted by a flame which a chance traveller lias left, and spread its hands over the genial blaze; but when tlie glowing ashes fade, it has not siit- ficient understanding to supply fresh fuel, but sits ana moans over the I civilization, than its ancestors in the time of Adam. • Even thio statement is generally discreilitcd by naturalists.