ANIMALS. 87 



seems to relax their mental powers still more 

 than those of the body ; they are, therefore, in 

 general, found to be stupid, indolent, and mis- 

 chievous. The Arabians themselves, many colo- 

 nies of whom have migrated southward into the 

 most inland parts of Africa, seem to have dege- 

 nerated from their ancestors; and, forgetting 

 their ancient learning, and losing their beauty, 

 they have become a race scarcely any way dis- 

 tinguishable from the original natives. Nor does 

 it seem to have fared otherwise with the Portu- 

 guese, who, about two centuries ago, settled 

 along this coast. They also are become almost 

 as black as the Negroes ; and are said, by some, 

 to be even more barbarous. 



The inhabitants of America make a fifth race, 

 as different from all the rest in colour as they 

 are distinct in habitation. The natives of Ame- 

 rica, (except in the northern extremity, where 

 they resemble the Laplanders), are of a red or 

 copper colour; and although, in the old world, 

 different climates produce a variety of complex- 

 ions and customs, the natives of the new conti- 

 nent seem to resemble each other in almost 

 every respect. They are all nearly of one co- 

 lour ; all have black thick straight hair, and thin 

 black beards ; which, however, they take care to 

 pluck out by the roots. They have, in general, 

 flat noses, with high cheek-bones, and small eyes ; 

 and these deformities of nature they endeavour to 

 increase by art ; they flatten the nose, and often 

 the whole head of their children, while the bones 

 are yet susceptible of every impression. They 



