THE NOMADIC OR PASTORAL STAGE.
The domestication of animals offered man a means of subsistence far less uncertain and less toilsome than the chase. Hence where there were species of animals capable of easy domestication it became in remote ages a favorite source of livelihood. In many respects it was a notable im provement on the hunting state. The herdsman tames the wild animal by kind treatment ; he must care for it and protect it in order to keep it alive ; lie must find food for it, and shelter when necessary. Thus his attention to the brute educates his benevolent sentiments toward his fel low-man. It becomes a cogent argument that he who will aid his ox or his ass when it falls into a pit should do as much for his neighbor. More over, the increased security of the food-supply allows larger masses of men to join in communities, and by this respect for social law is established, the nucleus of the State is formed, the sense of family ties is accentuated, and leisure for artistic development is increased.
No pastoral life was found either in Australia or America, as the fauna of neither of these continents contained any animal which could easily and profitably be domesticated in sufficient numbers to become a depend ence for food. On the other hand, both Asia, Africa, and Europe offered various species of cattle, horses, sheep, goats, and asses, which readily sub mitted to the control of man, and in their milk and flesh provided a per manent and sufficient supply of food. Hence long before the beginning of history in each of these continents vast tracts were occupied by tribes who wandered with their flocks and herds from pasturage to pasturage, and placed their ideal and measure of wealth in the abundance of their domestic animals. We have heretofore mentioned how our word ficcu
niary carries with it the traditions of this ancient epoch (see p. 115); and the pages of the most venerable documents of human lore, of the Rig Veda, the Avesta, and the book of Genesis, bear unanimous testimony to the high honor in which the herdsman was held, the extraordinary care bestowed on the flocks, and the influence which they conferred on their possessor.
A pure nomadic life is still led by some of the Tartar tribes of Central Asia and by the Caffirs of South Africa ; but the growing demands of other vocations have materially lessened its extent within historic times. It is probable that the Aryan nations who at a pre-historic period overran Southern and South-western Europe, driving before them the Iberians and Cave-dwellers and founding the villages in the Swiss lakes, were largely pastoral in their habits, or soon became so. Their remains indicate the possession both of cattle and horses. They continued substantially no madic quite down to the fall of Rome, and are so described by Strabo, Taci tus, Czcsar, and other writers.
Nomadic tribes are usually migratory. They must ever be on the look out for "fresh fields and pastures new." Relying on the spontaneous prod ucts of the soil for the food of their flocks, they must move from one locality to another as the seasons demand. This tends to prevent the establishment of permanent settlements and enduring social relations, and limits the benefits which the pastoral life brings with it. For this reason no pastoral nation has a history, nor has played any continuous part in the drama of the world.