ANIMALS. 79 



even a native of Canada can think more barba- 

 rous than his own. 



But the gradations of nature are imperceptible ; 

 and while the north is peopled with such misera- 

 ble inhabitants, there are here and there to be 

 found, upon the edges of these regions, people of 

 larger stature and completer figure. A whole 

 race of the dwarfish breed is often found to come 

 down from the north, and settle more to the south- 

 ward ; and, on the contrary, it sometimes happens 

 that southern nations are seen higher up, in the 

 midst of these diminutive tribes, where they have 

 continued for time immemorial. Thus the Os- 

 tiac Tartars seem to be a race that have travelled 

 down from the north, and to be originally sprung 

 from the minute savages we have been describing. 

 There are also Norwegians and Finlanders, of pro- 

 per stature, who are seen to inhabit in latitudes 

 higher even than Lapland. These, however, are 

 but accidental migrations, and serve as shades to 

 unite the distinct varieties of mankind. 



The second great variety in the human spe- 

 cies, seems to be that of the Tartar race ; from 

 whence, probably, the little men we have been 

 describing originally proceeded. The Tartar 

 country, taken in general, comprehends the 

 greatest part of Asia; and is, consequently, a 

 general name given to a number of nations, of 

 various forms and complexions. But however 

 they seem to differ from each other, they agree 

 in being very unlike the people of any other 

 country. All these nations have the upper part 

 of the visage very broad, and wrinkled even 



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