Chapter I: Some Savage Myths and Beliefs

The universality of religion—Nature and tests of the evidence
relating to the subject—Savage ideas of creation: ideas of a
first man confused with ideas of a first cause—Illustrative
examples of primitive cosmogony—Origin of the myth of the
Two Contending Brothers—Prevalence of the belief in a Golden
Age—Deluge-myths—Their possible origin in recollections of
local floods, in the changes of the land-level, or in fancies
about the skies—Absence in most of them of any connection
with human crime—Vivid belief in futurity among the lower
races—Gradual growth of the idea of the future life as affected
by the present one—Difficulties in the attainment of future
happiness—The great difference between savage and civilised
beliefs regarding the Unknown illustrated by the savage
belief in a future life for animals or things as well as for
men—Compensations in the savage’s creed: no terror of death nor
of the future pages 1-40