256 



THE LIVING RACES OF MANKIND 



By permission of Messrs. Newton & Co., 3, Fleet Street, E. C. 



A GROUP OF TEACHERS, AMERICAN MISSIONARY SOCIETY, ARMENIA. 



and Dundar, the founders of the Ottoman sovereignty, probably fused with the Seljuks. 

 The enormous number of their representatives at the present time cannot be put down 

 to natural increase, as the Turks were always a fighting and destructive race. It points to 

 fusion with other peoples. Osmanli, the name given to the modern Turk, covers a hybrid 

 race which has absorbed Asiatic, Armenian, Greek, and Arab elements. Taking the Asiatic 

 Turk as he appears to-day, ethnologists agree that all distinctive Mongolic features have 

 disappeared. His large brown eyes, bushy eyebrows, full beard, and strong Avhite teeth 

 entitle him to rank as a really high-class representative of the Caucasian type. This is not 

 surprising when we remember that the Turkish harem is largely recruited from Circassian, 

 Georgian, Abkhasian, and other peoples of the Caucasus, noted for their physical beauty. 



The Turks chiefly inhabit the western provinces. Here it is that the true character of 

 that once all-conquering people is most fully apparent. As their early history shows, they 

 were formerly a haughty and powerful race, and possessed great aptitude for conquest. They 

 always needed the goad of strong feeling, however, to bring out their latent capacity. Under 

 the stress of necessity, and when thoroughly roused, they fought with irresistible determination. 

 When the spell was once broken, they sank back into a state of indolence and proud 

 seclusion. Against the undoubted prowess of the Turk on the battle-field must be set off 

 his entire want of ability to make any use of his Avarlike achievements. He was content to 

 do nothing. The trader who supplied his needs and the peasant who worked for him he 

 despised impartially. His past character explains much of the seeming inconsistency which 

 he displays to-day. Far outnumbering all other races in these western provinces, the Turks 

 do not enjoy unchallenged supremacy. The Greeks and Armenians even there are serious 



