704 INFLUENCE OF CLIMATE ON 



populous, wealthy, and highly civilized nations 

 of antiquity, flourished in southern Asia and 

 northern Africa ; as in India, China, Arabia, 

 Syria, Egypt, Tyre, Sidon, and Carthage. But 

 the climate of these countries is moderate, com- 

 pared with that of tropical Africa and New 

 Holland ; or intermediate between what I have 

 denominated hot and temperate climates. For 

 example, the mean annual temperature is 70 at 

 Algiers; in winter it is 61*4 and 82*8 in sum- 

 mer ; while at Cairo in Egypt, the mean of the 

 year is 72'4, that of winter 58'4, and that of 

 summer 85-8. Corresponding with this interme- 

 diate climate, is the physical character of the 

 natives, who are neither black nor white, but 

 dark brown, olive, or yellow ; with long and 

 slightly curled hair, regular features, sparkling 

 eyes, slight but muscular frames, well formed 

 heads, and a considerable share of intelligence. 



Yet among all the monuments of southern 

 Asia and northern Africa, there is nothing in 

 architecture, sculpture, poetry, painting, &c. 

 equal to the finest models of Greece. And there 

 is reason to believe, that in the still more uni- 

 form climate of Great Britain, where the grass is 

 rarely killed by frost, or parched with excessive 

 heat, but remains green throughout the year, 

 man has arrived at greater size, strength, and 

 longevity, including all the endowments of a vi- 

 gorous physical, intellectual, and moral organi- 



