Theirsmallerboats，orcoracles，weremadeofosiersinterwoven，coveredwithhides，andriggedwithleathernsailsandthongtackle。
Itwillreadilybeimaginedthatanythinglikecivilization，asatpresentunderstood，musthavebeennexttoimpossibleundersuchcircumstances。”Miserableindeed，”saysCarlyle，”wastheconditionoftheaboriginalsavage，glaringfiercelyfromunderhisfleeceofhair，whichwiththebeardreacheddowntohisloins，andhungroundthemlikeamattedcloak；therestofhisbodysheetedinitsthicknaturalfell。Heloiteredinthesunnygladesoftheforest，livingonwildfruits；or，astheancientCaledonians，squattedhimselfinmorasses，lurkingforhisbestialorhumanprey；withoutimplements，withoutarms，savetheballofheavyflint，towhich，thathissolepossessionanddefencemightnotbelost，hehadattachedalongcordofplaitedthongs；therebyrecoveringaswellashurlingitwithdeadly，unerringskill。”
Theinjunctiongiventomanto”replenishtheearthandsubdueit”
couldnotpossiblybefulfilledwithimplementsofstone。Tofellatreewithaflinthatchetwouldoccupythelabourofamonth，andtoclearasmallpatchofgroundforpurposesofculturewouldrequirethecombinedeffortsofatribe。Forthesamereason，dwellingscouldnotbeerected；andwithoutdwellingsdomestictranquillity，security，culture，andrefinement，especiallyinarudeclimate，wereallbutimpossible。Mr。Emersonwellobserves，that”theeffectofahouseisimmenseonhumantranquillity，power，andrefinement。Amaninacaveoracamp——anomad——dieswithnomoreestatethanthewolforthehorseleaves。Butsosimplealabourasahousebeingachieved，hischiefenemiesarekeptatbay。Heissafefromtheteethofwildanimals，fromfrost，sunstroke，andweather；andfinefacultiesbegintoyieldtheirfineharvest。Inventionsandartsareborn，manners，andsocialbeautyanddelight。”Buttobuildahousewhichshouldserveforshelter，forsafety，andforcomfort——inaword，asahomeforthefamily，whichisthenucleusofsociety——bettertoolsthanthoseofstonewereabsolutelyindispensable。
HencemostoftheearlyEuropeantribeswerenomadic：firsthunters，wanderingaboutfromplacetoplaceliketheAmericanIndians，afterthegame；thenshepherds，followingtheherdsofanimalswhichtheyhadlearnttotame，fromonegrazing-groundtoanother，livingupontheirmilkandflesh，andclothingthemselvesintheirskinsheldtogetherbyleathernthongs。Itwasonlywhenimplementsofmetalhadbeeninventedthatitwaspossibletopractisetheartofagriculturewithanyconsiderablesuccess。Thentribeswouldceasefromtheirwanderings，andbegintoformsettlements，homesteads，villages，andtowns。AnoldScandinavianlegendthuscuriouslyillustratesthislastperiod：——Therewasagiantesswhosedaughteronedaysawahusbandmanploughinginthefield。Sheranandpickedhimupwithherfingerandthumb，puthimandhisploughandoxenintoherapron，andcarriedthemtohermother，saying，”Mother，whatsortofbeetleisthisthatIhavefoundwrigglinginthesand?”Butthemothersaid，”Putitaway，mychild；wemustbegoneoutofthisland，forthesepeoplewilldwellinit。”