For starters... which is easier... Bass or acoustic guitar?

My friend was thinking of taking acoustic guitar lessons but what he really wants is to play bass. Will it be better for him to start on an acoustic and then move on to a Bass? or viceversa? I've heard it's supposed to be easier to play bass if you already know to play on an acoustic.
Please help my friend!!! Thanks! :-)

he wants to play the bass, so let him play the bass, guitar is a totally different instrument (for the people who will answer this thread, I know it's tuned the same way as the first 4 strings of the guitar...) and it's a different technique and sound...

But won't it be easier for him to play bass if he already knows how to play guitar? Or is the same if he starts bass right now?

if you want to play football, is it easier if you know how to play baseball?
Well, yes, because some basics are the same, but it's two different sports...
That's the same with the bass and the guitar... Theory and notes are the same, but it's very different, so he might want to start directly with the bass...

thanks