220 NATURAL AND CIVIL \ 



in the city of Mexico, when he led his band of 



ruftians against it. From these effects we may : 



determiiie with certainty, that the defect in the ; 



Indian population, was not derived from any , 



weakness, iniootency, degradation, or defect of ! 



nature ; but arose from a situation, in which i 



every circumstance was unfriendly to increase, | 



and multiplication. i 



From the beardless countenance, and inat- : 



tcntion of tlie Indian to the female, some philo- 'j 



sophers of great eminence and abilities, have | 



formed the most extravagant systems and theo- \ 

 ries. One has asserted that tlie Indian of A- 



inerica has an inferior constitution to the Euro- ' 



pean ; that he is weak, and deficient in the or- ^ 



gans of generation ; ^vithout ardour, and impo- j 

 tent with the female ; and destitute of natural 



affections to his wife and children.* Another ! 



is positive that he is not descended from the J 



common parents of the whites, but is a distinct, ; 

 separate, and inferior oidcr of men to them ; of 



a different original, and speclefi.f And it seems j 



to be generally asserted and believed, by the j 



historians who have quoted these accounts, that ] 



the man of America was of less force, energy, \ 



and vigour, than the man of Europe ; and la- ' 



boured under some physical defect, or degrada- • 



tion. J 



The clearest proof, and the most unexcep- \ 



tionable evidence, ought to have been produced, j 



before a philosopher admitted as facts, things | 



so repugnant to the general principles and laws \ 



of nature. Had this been attempted, it would , 



] 



M. ^eBuffon, iviii. I46. 1 



Kaims' Sketchee Hist, of Man, Vol. I. Sketch I. Val, III. Sketch 12- ij 



