Departmental Ditties Barrack Room Ballads Rudyard Kipling Author:Rudyard Kipling A passage from the book... We are very slightly changed From the semi-apes who ranged India's prehistoric clay; Whoso drew the longest bow, Ran his brother down, you know, As we run men down today. "Dowb," the first of all his race, Met the Mammoth face to face On the lake or in the cave, Stole the steadiest canoe, Ate the quarry others ... more »slew, Died-and took the finest grave.« less