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Enumeration of the Races of Man. By CHARLES PICKER- 
ING, M.D., Member of the Scientific Corps attached to 
the United States Exploring Expedition. 
Three races of men are familiarly known in the United 
States, and are admitted by general consent. The same 
three physical races have been considered by eminent 
naturalists (who, however, have not travelled), to comprise 
all the varieties of the human family. Blumenbach has in- 
dicated a fourth race, the Malay; and even a fifth has been 
shadowed forth in the accounts of the Australian Seas. It 
was impossible, however, from the materials furnished by 
books, to define the geographical boundaries of these races ; 
a point which seemed of importance, as forming in a good 
degree the basis of our reasoning on the whole subject. 
This, then, was one of the objects of investigation I pro- 
posed to myself, on joining the Exploring Expedition ; and my 
previous experience as a naturalist, a pursuit calling for the 
constant exercise of the powers of discrimination, gave me 
some advantage in conducting the inquiry. 
At one time during the voyage I thought my task nearly 
accomplished ; and after visiting Australia and New Zealand, 
I actually penned an opinion, that the races of men were five 
in number. Soon, however, I was compelled to admit three 
more ; neither was this the limit of the productiveness of 
nature, in new and undreamt-of combinations of features. 
More careful observation than at the outset had seemed 
necessary, was now called into requisition ; and often, for a 
time, I experienced perplexity. One difficulty arose in fixing 
in the mind, while passing from place to place, the relative 
shades of complexion. Fortunately for my purpose, tattoo- 
ing was practised in many of the countries visited, and these ~ 
markings afforded a convenient test of the depth of hue. In- 
dividuals also, of three or more races, being present among 
the crews of our vessels, afforded the means of mak- 
ing some direct comparisons. In the end all difficulties 
vanished, and I was enabled to arrive at satisfactory con-— : 
clusions. 
