Re: Waking up covered in dew
Phil Nicholls (pnich@global2000.net)
Tue, 27 Aug 1996 20:40:53 GMT
Paul Crowley (Paul Crowley <Paul@crowleyp.demon.co.uk>) writes:
> In article <01bb9288$f31a1140$LocalHost@anything.global2000.net>
> pnich@global2000.net "Philip Nicholls" writes:
>
> > Paul Crowley <Paul@crowleyp.demon.co.uk> wrote in article
> > > As you imply, my basic point stands. Sleeping naked on the ground
> > > you'd get chilled to death.
> >
> > Paul, does it occur to you that there may be a reason why apes build
> > nightnests and that early hominids, naked or not, very likely did the same
> > (as we still do today).
>
> We've already covered this point, Phil, in this very thread.
> Apes built nests in trees and rest *on* them. They do this to
> avoid predators, not to avoid cold. Would you sleep up in a tree
> in order to avoid cold? Large male gorillas sleep on the ground,
> usually first covering it with vegetation against dampness on the
> ground. For significant protection against cold, you need a
> layer of impervious material to trap a warm layer of air. Loose
> vegetation is not much use.
>
> Paul.
Paul, old boy, as usual you are missing the point. I was attempting
to point out that apes sleeping on the ground would not be sleeping
DIRECTLY on the ground. Many modern peoples in tropical countries
sleep naked or nearly naked on grass mats.
By the way, I have slept on the savannah and I can assure you that
being chilled to death is not a problem.
Phil Nicholls pnich@globalone.net
"To ask a question you must first know most of the answer"
-Robert Sheckley
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