GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS, 1029 



CHAPTER XX. 



OF THE DIFFERENT BRANCHES OF THE HUMAN FAMILY, 

 AND THEIR MUTUAL RELATIONS. 



1. General Considerations. 



1031. AMONGST the various tribes of Men which people the surface of the 

 globe, and which are separated from all other animals by the characters for- 

 merly described (CHAP. I.), there are differences of a very striking and important 

 nature. They are distinguishable from each other, not merely by their lan- 

 guage, dress, manners and customs, religious belief, and other acquired pecu- 

 liarities, but in the physical conformation of their bodies j and the difference 

 lies, not merely in the color of the skin, the nature of the hair, the form of the 

 soft parts (such as the nose, lips, &c.), but in the shape of the skull, and of 

 other parts of the bony skeleton, which might be supposed to be less liable to 

 variation. It is a question of great scientific interest, as well as one that con- 

 siderably affects the mode in which we regard the races that differ from our own, 

 whether they are all of one species, that is, descended from the same or from 

 similar parentage or whether they are to be considered as distinct species, the 

 first parents of the several races having had the same differences among them- 

 selves as those which are now exhibited by their descendants. 



1032. In order to arrive at a just conclusion on this subject, it is necessary 

 to take a very extensive survey of the evidence furnished by a number of differ- 

 ent lines of inquiry. Thus, in the first place, it is right to investigate what are 

 the discriminating structural marks by which species are distinguished among 

 other tribes of animals. Secondly, it should be ascertained to what extent 

 variation may proceed among races which are historically known to have a com- 

 mon parentage, and what are the circumstances which most favor such variations. 

 Thirdly, the extreme variations which present themselves among the different 

 races of Men should be compared with those which occur among tribes of ani- 

 mals known to be of the same parentage; and it should be questioned, at the same 

 time, whether the circumstances which favor the production of varieties in the 

 latter case are in operation in the former. Fourthly, where it is impossible to 

 trace back distinct races to their origin, it is to be inquired how far agreement in 

 physiological and psychological peculiarities may be regarded as indicating spe- 

 cific identity, even where a considerable difference exists in bodily conformation ; 

 and this test, if it can be determined on, has to be applied to Man. Fifthly, it 

 must be attempted, by a detailed examination of the varieties of the Human race 

 themselves, to ascertain whether their differences in conformation are constant ; or 

 whether there are not occasional manifestations, in each race, of a tendency to 

 assume the characters of others ; so as to prevent any definite lines being drawn 

 between the several tribes, which together make up the (supposed) distinct 

 species. An investigation so comprehensive could not be followed out, even in 

 the most cursory manner that would be consistent with utility, within the limits 

 of the present work ; and no more will be attempted, therefore, than an indica- 

 tion of the principal points of difference among the several Races of Men, and a 



