474 NATURAL HISTORY OF MAN. 



time as recorded in the Hebrew, Samaritan, and Septuagint 

 texts; amounting altogether to a period as long as that 

 which has elapsed from the beginning of the Anglo-Saxon 

 monarchy to the present day. Even in an early part of 

 these books we find allusion to nations which had grown 

 into existence and power ; but without any sign to mark 

 their origin, beyond some single name, or the general state- 

 ment of the multiplication of Man on the earth. It is, 

 however, the affirmation of the origin of mankind from 

 a single pair of created beings which forms the link between 

 the Scripture narrative and the subject before us. We 

 must not look to it for description of the primitive physical 

 characters of the human species, or for details as to the 

 origin of human languages. But it is much to arrive at 

 the same point through paths thus diverse ; and we shall 

 do well for the cause of truth to hold the sacred volume 

 ever in our hands, seeing where it fairly comes into contact 

 with other knowledge, but never forcing its peculiar objects 

 and phraseology into conclusions with which it has no con- 

 cern. 



Passing from the Scriptural to other history, whether of 

 writings, tradition, or mythology, we lose this distinct 

 affirmation of the unity of mankind, without gaining any 

 more certain record of the primitive state of the species. 

 The notices indeed multiply as to the growth and spread of 

 particular tribes ; but even if possessing more authority than 

 belongs to them, they go short way towards giving us 

 knowledge of that mysterious period, which intervenes 

 between the creation of Man and the formation of nations 

 and empires. We lose ourselves in utter darkness when we 

 seek to go beyond certain epochs, remarkable in the ancient 

 world as the period of great movements and migrations 

 among the people best known to us. One of these may 

 especially be denoted, as comprising within a very short time 



