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Religion, Practice and Science of Non-Violence
of the brain that makes memory, planning and language possible also grew as well as changed in feed-back mechanism with the social evolution. And this is how man emerged from the apes.
The earliest men probably snared and hunted wild animals and birds, caught fishes and collected wild fruits. They were food-gatherers. We do not know enough of their social customs and behaviour, but can make a rough guess, from the study of the present day food-gathering socities.
A study of the most primitive human societies still existing on the earth such as the food-gathering societies of Africa, Indonesia, Australia, brings out interesting observations regarding aggression.
Generally speaking, these people lack material possession, pottery or metal works. They do not weave or spin. They construct some sort of shelter of tree branches, practice no agriculture and do not domesticate animals. Traps and snares and bow and arrows are sometimes the only possessions.
The predominant grouping is that of small bands of relatives consisting of a single family, parents and children. It may also be slightly more complicated and consist of, say, grand-parents, children and grandchildren, or of married brothers or some such grouping.
Each group has its own hunting ground, about which it moves making temporary settlements here and there. They have no tribal organization. They do not possess chiefs or chiefly classes. It would appear each group is equal to the other. The senior members of the group exercise any necessary authority and guidance.
Within the family group, all is peaceful. The young men are not trained as warriors. They do not raid their neighbours for women or property. There is no evidence of fighting for food. Slavery is unknown and so is cannabalism and human sacrifice. Food-gatherers are noted for their hospitality. Strangers are welcomed and given their due share of food and shelter.
An apparent exception to the above is to be found in the strict laws of trespass that many of these people observe. Nearly all the groups have fairly clearly determined areas over which
1Such a comparison, for various reasons, is not strictly warranted.
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