The more the men talked about the scar, the more they wanted scars. They talked with Chew-chew about it, and at last decided to let her make scars.
So Chew-chew muttered prayers to the gods, and asked them not to hurt the Cave-men. Then she took a flint point and scratched the men’s arms until she made big scars.
Years afterward, when people made scars, they stained them with all sorts of things. Sometimes they stained the scars with juices of plants, and sometimes they colored them with paints.
The Cave-men thought they could protect themselves by scars, and by all sorts of charms. So they kept on making scars, and they hunted for all sorts of charms.
But no matter how many charms they wore, they often were lame and stiff. Some one must have noticed that they were more apt to be lame after sitting on the cold ground while they were warm. For after a while the custom grew of never sitting on the bare ground while they were warm.
THINGS TO DO
Draw or paint a pattern which you think the Cave-men might have tattooed upon their arms. Where do we put the pictures which we make?
Find and name as many roots and herbs as you can that are used as medicines.
What animals have you seen eating herbs?
What mistakes did the Cave-men make when they tried to cure themselves?