824} On the Revolutions of Iceland^ Political and Natural. 



renees are descended ; to whom I may add the inhabitants of 

 Corsica, and of many other of the islands in the Mediterranean. 

 The people, or individuals, of other countries of the earth, whose 

 form of head and organic structure most approximate to the 

 physical constitution of the genuine Arabians, are necessarily 

 possessed of a proportionate perfectability in their sensitive 

 functions and their intellectual faculties. 



We shall confine our remarks on the present occasion to the 

 statement of these general ideas, which are the result of the re- 

 searches and comparative observations I have had an opportu- 

 nity of making among many different nations in the four quar- 

 ters of the globe. I flatter myself that they will be useful to 

 the scientific commission which is appointed to make observa- 

 tions around Algiers, and the ancient kingdom of Syphax : 

 they may also assist in suggesting rules of health for the pre- 

 servation and propagation of the physical and instinctive qua- 

 lities of this race of primitive men. 



M. Larrey presented to the Academy the Corsican head, and 

 the two others, to which he referred, that, viz. of an Arab, and 

 of a young Parisian aged twelve years, also the head of a Ne- 

 gro. All these he presented to the Museum of Natural His- 

 tory. 



On the Revolutions of Iceland, Political and Natural.'^ 



Iceland is perhaps the most singular country in the world. 

 It is generally agreed that it received its first settlers from 

 Norway. For a century or two, new colonies were seen suc- 

 cessively to arise, which were nearly all headed either by bold 

 adventurers, or by great Norwegian chieftains, who, persecuted 

 by their kings, expatriated themselves that they might avoid 

 tyranny. On landing in Iceland, they Ibeheld before them 

 open and unoccupied lands, on which they freely established 

 themselves and their followers. They ere long induced some 

 of the principal families of Sweden to join them. These noble 



* From the Voyage en Islande et au, Grotnlandy execute .mr La Recherdie, 

 tome i. parti. Par M, P. Gaimard. Paris 1838. 



