16 PRINCIPAL VARIETIES 



north of the Caspian sea, to the peninsula of Malacca, the 

 lines of the face and the formation of the countenance are 

 the same." To the class of original Tartars may be re- 

 ferred the Cochin-Chinese, the Siamese, the Tonquinese, 

 and the natives of Aracan, Laos, and Pegu ; who all evince 

 a common origin. 



The southern Asiatics constitute the THIRD variety in 

 the human species. The native inhabitants of the penin- 

 sula of India (whose descendants, according to the most 

 accurate and intelligent modern travellers, appear to have 

 possessed themselves at unknown periods, and by acci- 

 dental means, of the numerous islands that lie scattered 

 in the Indian ocean) are easily distinguished from their 

 more northern neighbours. In stature and features they 

 bear a strong resemblance to Europeans ; they are slender 

 and elegantly formed, have long straight black hair, and 

 not unfrequently aquiline noses. Their colour, however, 

 according to the diversity of climate, varies from pale olive 

 to black ; yet mogul, in the Oriental acceptation, signifies 

 a white man. The women are very delicate, but have 

 nearly the same complexion as the men : they early arrive 

 at maturity ; and their beauty suffers from the encroach- 

 ments of age, so early as their thirtieth year. 



Effeminacy, and the want of military qualities, have 

 long characterised the natives of the East ; and in con- 

 sequence, they have become slaves to every armed despot 

 who has had the resolution to invade them. Their man- 

 ners partake of the enervating heat of their climate ; they 

 are generally indolent, submissive, sensual, and averse to 

 reflection. 



Many of the tribes eat nothing that ever possessed life, 

 and show a reluctance to injure even the meanest insect. 

 This arises from their belief in the metempsychosis, or 

 transmigration of souls ; which was the favourite doctrine 

 of Pythagoras, and has for many ages been prevalent 

 among the Eastern nations. The usual food of the Gen- 

 toos is rice ; their drink the unadulterated stream. They 

 are clothed in silks and cottons, and affect a grave deport- 



