MAN. 4-9 



own observations, assures us, that " among ail the 

 people, from the east and north of the Caspian Sr* 

 to the peninsula of Malacca, the lines of the face, 

 and the formation of the countenance, are the same/* 

 This assertion seems to be, too positive, as well as too 

 general, on so vague a subject as the conformation 

 of the human countenance, among so many myriads 

 of men spread over so vast an. extent of country. 

 The most eminent travellers, however, seem to think 

 it most probable, that not only the Tartars, the 

 Chinese, and the Japanese, but also the Cochin^ Chi- 

 nese, and the Tonquinese, as well as the nations be- 

 yond the Ganges, are of the same race, and proceed 

 from one common origin. 



The southern Asiatics are generally considered a* 

 the third great variety of the human species. They 

 resemble the Europeans in stature and shape, as well 

 as "in features, although they are very different m 

 complexion, which is olive, and lighter or darker, in 

 proportion as they are more or less distant from the 

 equator. The Hindoos are remarkable for their total 

 abstinence from animal food, the natural effect of 

 their belief of the metempsychosis, or transmigration 

 of souls, which constitutes one of the leading tenets 

 of their religion. The women have nearly the same 

 features as the men, and are elegantly formed ; but , 

 their constitutions seem to be extremely delicate. 

 They arrive early at maturity ; but their beauty 

 soon fades, and before they a- tain their thirtieth year 

 they .begin to i'eel the encroachments of age. In- 

 dolence and voluptuousness are among those people 

 the most prevalent vices, and humanity the most dis- 

 tingnisiied virtue. 



Tilt; Negroes constitute the fourth and most dis- 

 tiuct face of men. The different Negro nations are 

 diffused over the greatest part of southern Africa, 

 from the eighteenth degree of north latitude to the 

 same degree on the south side of the equator. Ex- 

 cept the Abyssinians, who are olive-coloured, thi* 

 fxtensive tract of country is wholly occupied by the 

 bliu;k-complexioned race. 



