[ 205 3 



XLIV. Olservat'wns on the Hypothesis of some modern IVriters, 

 that America has hen peopled by a distinct Race of Men and 

 Animals; ivith some Proofs arising from the Natural History 

 and Appearances of the new Continent in favoiir of the 

 Mosaic Account of the Deluge. By Hugh Williamson, 

 M.D.of New- York * . 



V » E observe a regular systematical change in the colour, shape^ 

 and features of men, to the north and the south. From the 

 climate of a fair skin, fine shape and pleasing feature, going to 

 the northward, the skin becomes of a blackish brown, the figure 

 clumsv, and the features coarse. Going to the southward, in the 

 same manner, we alter the complexion, shape and features, until 

 the skin becomes perfectly black, the shape in some countries 

 less graceful, and the features coarse: the colour being altered, 

 according to the soil, situation and climate, by the most regular 

 and insensible deviations and shades. 



Those facts being considered ; it being also observed, that 

 everv change is most proper and best adapted to the climate, or 

 ■that it is the natural eifeet of such climate; there can be no 

 moral or physical proposition more certain, than that all those 

 people are descended from the same family. 



The philosophers, wiio discovered several races of men on the 

 old continent, have not failed to plant a new and distinct race 

 of men in America. In support of this opinion, they allege that 

 the American Indians do not ditfer from one another in colour, 

 like the inhabitants of the other continentf : their colour also 

 is different from tliat of any other people: that the American 

 has no beard; that he is more frigid, more weak and more 

 eowardlv tiian the inhabitants of the old continent. 



This huml)le and subordinate character of the American sa- 

 vage has not a!v\avs been urged as a direct proof that he be- 

 longs to a separate race of men, for it has occasionally been ad- 

 vanced in the pride of country; a species of pride that will not 

 suffer children to equal their ancestors; that makes it impossi- 

 ble for them to o!)tairi such equality, because there is something 

 in America, as they allege, " that is lets favourable to the 

 strength and perfection of animal creation." 



The comj^lcxion of the American savage, or the sameness of 

 colour that is observed among those people, forms the most re- 

 markable trait in their character. When we observe, in the old 



• From "OhservMlioDS on the Climate in ditVcrent Parts of America, 

 comparcrl with ttieChmate in correspondliijj Parts of the other Continent." 

 New-York, printed 181.5. 



f Ilaynal's Phil, and Polit Hist. 



continent, 



