ABSTRACT
The dwellers in tropical forests have always exercised a peculiar fascination over the mind of civilized man, because among them the picture of our remote ancestors seemed again to be reproduced. The most primitive skull that has hitherto been found comes from Java, and all the apes which survive are tropical forest-dwellers. In the north the climate needs the expenditure of a great deal of energy to keep the body mechanism working. The tropics, while demanding protection from heat and light, require less energy to keep alive. Most of the wild tribes, like all primitive peoples, are very adept in tracking wild animals, even though the pursuit of them is only a final resort when other food fails. Some of the tribes have learned the use of a primitive type of pottery, but this is in all probability a recent acquisition.
