DISTINCTIVE PECULIARITIES OF THE RACES OF MAN. 85 



of Men ; whilst the region remote from the tropics is that of the white races; 

 and that the climates approaching the tropics are generally inhabited by na- 

 tions, which are of an intermediate complexion. To this observation it may 

 be added, that high mountains, and countries of great elevation, are generally 

 inhabited by people of a lighter colour, than are those of which the level is 

 low, such as swampy or sandy plains upon the sea-coast. These distinc- 

 tions are particularly well seen in Africa, where the tropics almost exactly 

 mark out the limits of the black complexion of the inhabitants ; and where 

 the deepest hue is to be seen among the Negroes of the Guinea Coast, whose 

 residence unites both the conditions just mentioned. 



82. The nature of the Hair is, perhaps, one of the most permanent charac- 

 teristics of different races. In regard to its colour, the same statements apply, 

 as those just made with respect to the colour of the skin; the variety of hue 

 being given by pigment-cells, which may be more or less developed under 

 different circumstances. But it has been thought that its texture afforded a 



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more valid ground of distinction; and it is commonly said that the substance 

 which grows on the head of the African races, and of some other dark-colour- 

 ed tribes (chiefly inhabiting tropical climates), is wool, and not hair. This, 

 however, is altogether a mistake : for microscopic examination clearly de- 

 monstrates, that the hair of the Negro has exactly the same structure with 

 that of the European; and that it does not bear any resemblance to wool, save 

 in its crispness and tendency to curl. Moreover, even this character is far 

 from being a constant one ; for, whilst Europeans are not unfrequently to be 

 met with, whose hair is as crisp as that of the Negro, there is a great variety 

 amongst the Negro races themselves, which present every gradation from a 

 completely crisp (or what is termed woolly) hair, to merely curled or even 

 flowing locks. A similar observation holds good in regard to the natives of 

 the islands of the great Southern Ocean, where some individuals possess crisp 

 hair, whilst others, of the same race, have it merely curled. It is evident, then, 

 that no characters can be drawn from the colour or texture of the hair in Man, 

 sufficiently fixed and definite to serve for the distinction of races: and this 

 view is borne out by the evident influence of climate, in producing changes 

 in the hairy covering of almost every race of domestic animals ; the change 

 often manifesting itself in the very individuals that are transported from one 

 country to another, and showing itself yet more distinctly in succeeding gene- 

 rations. 



83. It has been supposed, that varieties in the configuration of the Skeleton 

 would afford characters for the separation of the Human races, more fixed 

 and definite than these derived from differences in the form, colour, and tex- 

 ture of the soft parts which clothe it. And attention has been particularly 

 directed to the skull and the pelvis, as affording such characters. It has been 

 generally laid down as a fundamental principle, that all those notions which 

 are found to resemble each other in the shape of their heads, must needs be 

 more nearly related to each other, than they are to tribes of Men who differ 

 from them in this particular. But if this principle be rigorously carried out, 

 it will tend to bring together races, which inhabit parts of the globe very re- 

 mote from each other, and which have no other mark of affinity whatever : 

 whilst, on the other hand, it will often tend to separate races, which every 

 other character would lead us to bring together. It is to be remembered, 

 moreover, that the varieties in the conformation of the skeleton, presented by 

 the breeds of domesticated animals, are at least equal to those which are ma- 

 nifested in the conformation and colour of their soft parts; and we might rea- 

 sonably expect, therefore, to meet with similar variations among the Human 

 races. It is probable, however, that climate has not so much influence in 

 producing such changes in the configuration of the body, as is exerted by the 



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