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and apes, both in captivity and under native wild conditions, behave homosexually. This is, of course, in addition to their heterosexual activity, usually at about the same time or when circumstances permit. Young male monkeys and apes indulge in all of the known homosexual activities of humans, Mutual masturbation begins in the early youth of monkeys and apes and continues in adulthood. Under particular circumstances males will practice oral-genital homosexual excitement. Female as well as male apes and monkeys have been observed providing mutual sexual excitement and participating in homosexual activities. However, female homosexual activity among ahthropoids, as among humans, is less frequent and less widely observed than male homosexuality.

As a basis for understanding present-day human behavior, we have two sources of information: 1) early history, and 2) modern ethnographic studies of aborigines. We cannot trace present-day behavior in the past with certainty without written documents. It is assumed, however, that primate behavior found among monkeys, apes and modern humans has been present during man's whole history. Our earliest reliable information, nevertheless, comes from written documents, and from these we find evidence of homosexual attractions and activities from the beginning of writing itself.

One of the most revealing accounts comes from Mesopotamia and is contained in the legend of Gilgamesh. The legend is most fully recorded on Cuneiform Tablets from the famous Nineveh Library of Ashurbanipal from about 600 B. C. The same legend, moreover, has been recorded from numerous other tablets which date back to before 2500 B. C. This would probably have to be considered one of the earliest written statements regarding homosexual attraction between males that we have in history. Gilgamesh is described as "a man of remarkable physique and heroic character" who so captivated the youth of his time that the elders and even the Gods complained. Young men followed Gilgamesh wherever he went, accepted his guidance and his attention, and gave him their love. But Gilgamesh also attracted women and is said to have been so successful that "he leaves not a single virgin to her mother, a single daughter to a warrior, a single wife to her master." Because of the jealousy of the Goddess of Love, Ishtar, another semi-divine character but with special power, was created to be a competitor and to possibly outshine Gilgamesh so that he would not be so attractive to both the boys and girls of Mesopotamia. The name of this rival was Engidu. He was created with long hair, beautiful tresses, and was first left to run with the beasts of the field and forest. He was as swift as the gazelle, but also hunted with the other wild beasts. Finally the high God, Shamash, directed a hunter to take a beautiful priestess out to the water hole and to attract Engidu to her so that he would become interested in humans rather than animals. The poem is rather beautiful in describing the process of seduction which was accomplished by the priestess. In time Engidu appeared and then the hunter instructed her as follows: mattachine REVIEW

"There he is, woman! Loosen thy buckle, Unveil thy delight,

That be may take bis fill of thee! Hang not back, take up his lust! When be sees thee, be will draw near. Open thy robe that he rest upon thee! Arouse in bim rapture, the work of woman. Then he will become a stranger to his wild beasts, ubo u

Who upon his own steppes grew up with i Who upon his own steppes grew up with i Who on his own steppes grew up with him. His bosom will press against thee."

"His bosom pressed against her. Engidu forgot where he was born. For six days and seven nights

Was Engidu given over to love with the priestess. When be bad sated himself with the fill of ber, He raised up his face to his wild ones:

At sight of Engidu, the gazelles flee away, The wild of the fields shrink back before him.”

"Then Engidu marveled,

His body stood as in a spell........"

After Engidu had been tempted by the priestess to leave his wild life, Ishtar painted for him a bright picture of life in Erech and the pleasant rewards that would come to him as a friend of Gilgamesh. Shortly after they met, Gilgamesh and Engidu had a great fight which was supposed to humble Gilgamesh. But the plot of the Gods failed. Instead of developing a rivalry, Gilgamesh and Engidu became fast friends. They traveled, had many adventures and were entirely dedicated to each other. Gilgamesh even rejected the temptations of the Goddess of Love, Ishtar, to stay with his friend. When Engidu was dying, Gilgamesh made a trip to the Mesopotamian Noah, Uta-Napishtim, in search of the secret life. Inasmuch as Uta-Napishtim had survived the flood, he was supposed to have the secret of eternal life. Gilgamesh wished to obtain this secret for his great and good friend. Although the secret was given to Gilgamesh, he lost it while he was returning to Engidu, so that the friend had to die. Gilgamesh suffered the woes of parting from a loved one.