CHAPTER V.
The Art of Weighing was first employed for Gold.
We have seen in the preceding pages that from the Atlantic
seaboard right across into Further Asia the ox was universally
spread, and from a period long before the daybreak of history
already formed the chief element of property amongst the
various races of mankind which occupied that wide region. We
have likewise seen that gold was very equally distributed over
the same area, being ready to hand in the still unexhausted
deposits in the sands of rivers. And lastly we have seen that
from the most remote times there was complete communication
for purposes of trade between the various stocks. For whilst
peoples in the pastoral and nomad stage do not dwell together
in large communities they nevertheless are within touch of one
another. No better illustration of this can be found than the
relations between Abraham and Lot as set forth in Genesis
(xiii. 5 sqq.): "And Lot also, which went with Abram, had
flocks, and herds, and tents. And the land was not able to
bear them, that they might dwell together: for their substance
was great, so that they could not dwell together. And there
was a strife between the herdmen of Abram's cattle and the
herdmen of Lot's cattle: and the Canaanite and the Perizzite
dwelled then in the land. And Abram said unto Lot, Let
there be no strife, I pray thee, between me and thee, and
between my herdmen and thy herdmen; for we be brethren.
Is not the whole land before thee? separate thyself, I pray
thee, from me: if thou wilt take the left hand, then I will go
to the right: or if thou depart to the right hand, then I will
go to the left. And Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the
plain of Jordan, that it was well watered every where, before
