File:The history of mankind (1896) (14760654941).jpg

Identifier: historyofmankind01ratz (find matches)
Title: The history of mankind
Year: 1896 (1890s)
Authors: Ratzel, Friedrich, 1844-1904 Butler, Arthur John, 1844-1910
Subjects: Ethnology Anthropology
Publisher: London, Macmillan and co., ltd. New York, The Macmillan co.
Contributing Library: Wellesley College Library
Digitizing Sponsor: Wellesley College Library

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Bone comb from New Zealand—one-third real size.(British Museum.) 204 THE HISTORY OF MANKIND The weapons and utensils of the Polynesians are remarkably varied andabundant ; but among the Melanesians we meet with a still more copious displayof inventiveness and artistic ingenuity. The absence of iron is especially noticeable.When Europeans first came into contact with Polynesians, they found themcompelled to make up for the want of metals by using stones, bones, and shells.Few of the Polynesian islands possess metallic ores. On the coral islands thismight be expected, but it is also true in most cases of the volcanic formations.
Text Appearing After Image:
^^^v Man of the Ruk Islands, (from the Godeffroy Album.) But the level of culture among these races is such as to make us believe that ifthey had discovered the raw material they would have advanced to the use of themetals. With stone, bones, teeth, wood, they have achieved all that was possible.The implements of navigation and fishery, the boats and hooks, are perfect oftheir kind, and show evidence not only of cleverness but of the inventive faculty.Unlike the Australians and Bushmen, as soon as they get iron they know what todo with it. Naturally, iron was also converted to purposes of ornament; and asthe value of glass beads had already dropped considerably, iron ware of all kinds

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