UNITY OP THE SPECIES OP MAN. 149 



the various races that unquestionably belong to a common stock, 

 we find varieties of colour almost as great as those which exist 

 between the so-called distinct species. Thus, the Moors of 

 Northern Africa, the Hindoos of India, the fair-haired Saxons, 

 and the sun-burnt inhabitants of Southern Europe, may be all 

 referred with certainty to a common parentage ; the differences 

 between them being for the most part only " skin-deep," and the 

 relationship between them being shown by affinities in language, 

 customs, &c., as well as by general conformity in the structure 

 of their bodies. The same may be said of the various races 

 inhabiting Africa ; which, with the exception of those of Moorish 

 origin, undoubtedly belong to one family ; yet they differ most 

 widely from each other in colour, and in many points of general 

 conformation. Some of them, as the Kafirs, and some nations 

 in the interior of that vast continent, appear to be elevated 

 above the ordinary Negro type ; and present much resemblance 

 to the European stock : whilst others, as the Negroes of the 

 Guinea Coast, with whom we are most familiar, are evidently 

 degraded from it. In fact, there is fully as much difference 

 between these, as there is between those of the Negro and Euro- 

 pean races, which most nearly resemble each other. 



139. Such considerations alone would induce us to hesitate 

 much, before giving the character of distinct species to these 

 various races; more especially, as we find that the differences 

 they present are such as exist among the breeds of domestic 

 animals, which we have every reason to refer to a common origin 

 ( 13 and 107). There is not so much difference, for example, 

 between the European and the Negro, as there is between the 

 Mastiff and the Greyhound. And, as before remarked, the 

 conformation of the human body is such, that it easily adapts 

 itself to variations in its external conditions, and must therefore 

 change in accordance with them ; so that we should be justified 

 in expecting at least as much difference among the races of Men, 

 whose circumstances in regard to climate, food, nature of the 

 country, &c., are of an opposite character, as among the breeds 

 of domesticated animals. All argument from analogy, therefore, 

 is in favour of this view ; and there are some additional grounds 



