174 SKELETON. 



" The Caucasian race, to which we belong, is distinguished 

 by the beautiful oval form of the head ; and it is this which has 

 given birth to the most civilized nations, and to those which 

 have generally ruled over the others. It has some differences 

 in the shade of the complexion, and in the colour of the hair. 



" The Mongolian is known by its prominent cheek bones, 

 flat face, narrow and oblique eyes, straight and black hair, thin 

 beard, and olive complexion. It has formed vast empires in 

 China and Japan, and has sometimes extended its conquests on 

 this side of the Great Desert ; but its civilization has always 

 remained stationary. 



The Negro race is confined to the south of Mount Atlas; its 

 complexion is black, its hair woolly, its skull compressed, nose 

 flattish ; its prominent mouth and thick lips make it manifestly 

 approach the monkey tribe ; the people which compose this 

 race have always remained in a state of barbarism. 



" The race from which we are descended is called Caucasian, 

 because tradition and also the lineage of nations, would appear 

 to trace it to the group of mountains situated between the Cas- 

 pian and the Black seas, (on the borders of Europe,) from whence 

 it has radiated in every direction. The people of Caucasus, as 

 also the Georgians and Circassians, are considered, even at 

 the present day, the handsomest in the world. The principal 

 branches of this race are distinguishable by the analogies .of 

 language. The Armenian or Syrian division, directed its course 

 towards the south,, and has given birth to the Assyrians, the 

 Chaldeans, and the untameable Arabs, who, after Mahomet, 

 ( werd very near becoming masters of the world; to the Pheni- 

 cians, the Jews, and the Abyssinians, which were Arabian colo- 

 nies; and it is very probable that the Egyptians also are de- 

 scended from the same source. It is from this branch, (the 

 Syrian,) always inclined to mysticism, that the most widely 

 extended religions have sprung. Science and literature have 

 flourished among them occasionally, but always under fantas- 

 tic forms, and with a figurative style. 



" The Indian, German, and Pelasgic branch, is infinitely more 

 extended, and was divided at a much earlier period ; we, never- 



