До Адама

           Manygenerationsmusthavepassedawaybeforethedescendantsofthehordemigratedsouth,orremainedandadaptedthemselvestothechangedconditions.

           Lifewashitormissandhappy-go-luckywithus.Littlewaseverplanned,andlesswasexecuted.Weatewhenwewerehungry,drankwhenwewerethirsty,avoidedourcarnivorousenemies,tookshelterinthecavesatnight,andfortherestjustsortofplayedalongthroughlife.

           Wewereverycurious,easilyamused,andfulloftricksandpranks.Therewasnoseriousnessaboutus,exceptwhenwewereindangerorwereangry,inwhichcasestheonewasquicklyforgottenandtheotherasquicklygotover.

           Wewereinconsecutive,illogical,andinconsequential.Wehadnosteadfastnessofpurpose,anditwasherethattheFirePeoplewereaheadofus.Theypossessedallthesethingsofwhichwepossessedsolittle.Occasionally,however,especiallyintherealmoftheemotions,wewerecapableoflong-cherishedpurpose.ThefaithfulnessofthemonogamiccouplesIhavereferredtomaybeexplainedasamatterofhabit;butmylongdesirefortheSwiftOnecannotbesoexplained,anymorethancanbeexplainedtheundyingenmitybetweenmeandRed-Eye.

           ButitwasourinconsequentialityandstupiditythatespeciallydistressesmewhenIlookbackuponthatlifeinthelongago.OnceIfoundabrokengourdwhichhappenedtolierightsideupandwhichhadbeenfilledwiththerain.Thewaterwassweet,andIdrankit.Ieventookthegourddowntothestreamandfilleditwithmorewater,someofwhichIdrankandsomeofwhichIpouredoverLop-Ear.AndthenIthrewthegourdaway.