44 MAMMALIA. 



finally, the Sclavonian, from which spring those of the north-east, the Rus- 

 sian, Polish, Bohemian, &c. 



It is by this great and venerable branch of the Caucasian stock, that 

 philosophy, the arts, and the sciences have been carried to the greatest 

 perfection, and remained in the keeping of the nations which compose it 

 for more than three thousand years. 



It was preceded in Europe by the Celts, who came from the north, 

 whose tribes, once very numerous, are now confined to its most eastern 

 extremity, and by the Cantabrians, who passed from Africa into Spain, 

 now confounded with the many nations whose posterity have intermingled 

 in that peninsula. 



The ancient Persians originate from the same source as the Indians, 

 and their descendants to the present hour bear great marks of resemblance 

 to the people of Europe, 



The predatory tribes of the Scythian and Tartar branch, extending at 

 first to the north and north-east, always wandering over the immense plains 

 of those countries, returned only to devastate the happier abodes of their 

 more civilized brethren. The Scythians, who, at so remote a period, made 

 irruptions into upper Asia ; the Parthians, who there destroyed the Greek 

 and Roman domination; the Turks, who there subverted that of the 

 Arabs, and subjugated in Europe the unfortunate remnant of the Grecian 

 people, all swarmed from this prolific branch. The Finlanders and Hun- 

 garians are tribes of the same division, which have strayed among the 

 Sclavonic and Teutonic nations. Their original country, to the north and 

 north-east of the Caspian sea still contains inhabitants who have the same 

 origin, and speak similar languages, but mingled with other petty nations, 

 variously descended, and of different languages. The Tartars remained 

 unmixed longer than the others in the country included between the mouth 

 of the Danube to beyond the Irtisch, from which they so long menaced 

 Russia, and where they have finally been subjugated by her. The Mon- 

 goles, however, have mingled their blood with that of those they con- 

 quered, many traces of which may still be found among the inhabitants of 

 lesser Tartary. 



It is to the east of this Tartar branch of the Caucasian race that the 

 Mongolian race begins, whence it extends to the eastern ocean. Its 

 branches, the Calmucs, &c., still wandering shepherds, are constantly tra- 

 versing the desert. Thrice did their ancestors, under Attila, Genghis, 

 and Tamerlane, spread far the terror of their name. The Chinese are 

 the earliest and most civilized branch, not only of this race, to which they 

 belong, but of all the nations upon earth. A third branch, the Mant- 

 chures, recently conquered and still govern China. The Japanese, Co- 

 reans, and nearly all the hordes which extend to the north-east of Siberia, 

 subject to Russia, are also to be considered, in a great measure, as ori- 

 ginating from this race ; and such also is esteemed the fact, with regard to 

 the original inhabitants of various islands of that Archipelago. With the 

 exception of a few Chinese literati, the different nations of the Mongoles 

 are universally addicted to Buddism, or the religion of Fo. 



The origin of this great race appears to have been in the mountains of 

 Atlai, but it is impossible to trace the filiation of its different branches 

 with the same certainty as we have done those of the Caucasian. The 

 history of these wandering nations is as fugitive a? their establishments; 



