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Show 52 MAMMALIA. There are, however, certain intrinsic causes which s.eem to arrest the progress of particular races, although situated am1dst the most favourable circumstances. Varieties of the Ruman Species. Although the promiscuous intercourse of t~e human species, which produces individuals capable of propag~t~~~' would seem to demonstrate its unity, certain hereditary pccuhar1t1cs of conformation are observed which constitute what are termed races. Three of them in particular appear very distinct-the Caucasian or white, the Mongolian or yellow, and the Ethiopian or negro. The Caucasian to which we belong, is distinguished by the beauty of the oval for~ed by his head, varying in complexion and the colour of the hair. To this variety, the most highly civilized nations, and those which have generally held all others in subjection, are indebted for their origin. The Mongolian is known by his high cheek bones, flat visa?'e, narrow and oblique eyes, straight black hair, scanty beard and ohve complexion. Great empires have been established by this race in China and Japan~ and their conquests been extended to this side of the Great Desert. In civilization, however, it has always remained stationary. The Negro race is confined to the south of mount Atlas; it is marked by a black complexion, crisped or woolly hair, compressed cranium, and a flat nose. The projection of the lower parts of the face, and the thick lips, evidently approximate it to the monkey tribe: the hordes of which it consists have always remained in the most complete state of utter barbarism. The race from which we are descended has been called Caucasian, because tradition and the filiation of nations seem to refer its origin to that group of mountains situated between the Caspian and Black seas, whence, as from a centre, it has been extended like the radii of a circle. Various nations in the vicinity of Caucasus, the Georgians and Circassians, are still considered the handsomest on earth. The priucipal ramifications of this race may be distinguished by the ana· logies of language. The Armenian or Syrian branch, stretching to the south, produced the Assyrians, the Chaldeans, the hitherto untameable Arabs, who, after Mahomet, were near becoming mas· ters of the world; the Phenicians, Jews and Abyssinians, which were Arabian colonies ; and most probably the Egyptians. It is from this branch, always inclined to mysticism, that have sprung the most widely extended forms of religion-the arts and literature DIMANA. 53 have sometimes flourished among its nations, but always enveloped in a strange disguise and figurative style. The Indian, German, and Pelasgic branch is much more extended, and was much earlier divided: notwithstanding which, the most numerous affinities may be observed between its four principal languages- the Sanscrit, the present sacred language of the Hindoos, and the parent of the greater number of the dialects of Hindostan; the ancient language of the Pelasgi, common mother of the Greek, Latin, many tongues that are extinct, and of all those of the south of Europe; the Gothic or Teutonic, from which are derived the languages of the north and north-west of Europe, such as the German, Dutch, English, Danish, Swedish, and other dialects; and finally, the Sclavonian, from which spring those of the north-east, the Russian, Polish, Bohemian, &c. It is by this great and venerable branch of the Caucasian stock, that philosophy, the arts, and the sciences have been carried to the greatest perfection, and remained in the keeping of the nations which compose .it for more than three thousand years. It was preceded in Europe by the Celts, who came from the north, whose tribes, once very numerous, are now confined to its most eastern extremity, and by the Cantabrians, who passed from Africa into Spain, now confounded with the many nations whose posterity have intermingled in that peninsula. The ancient Persians originate from the same source as the Inclians, and their descendants to the present hour bear great marks of resemblance to the people of Europe. The predatory tribes of the Scythian and Tartar branch, extending at first to the north and north-east, always wandering over the immense plains of those countries, returned only to devastate the happier abodes of their more civilized brethren. The Scythians, who, at so remote a period, made irruptions into upper Asia; the Parthians, who there destroyed the Greek and Roman domination; the Turks, who there subverted that of the Arabs, and subjugated in Europe the unfortunate remnant of the Grecian people, all swarmed from this prolific branch. The Finlanders and Hungarians arc tribes of the same division, which have strayed among the Sclavonic and Teutonic nations. Their original country, to the north and northeast of the Caspian sea still contains inhabitants who have the same origin, and speak similar languages, but mingled with other petty nations, variously descended, and of different languages. The Tartars remained unmixed longer than the others in the country included between the mouth of the Danube to beyond the Irtisch, from which they so long menaced Russia, and where they have finally been subjugated by her. The Mongoles, however, have |