CHAPTER I. 



Nature and Objects of the Inquiry ; and Mode of Investigation ; 

 the Subject hitherto neglected, and very erroneous Notions conse- 

 quently prevalent. — Sources of Information. — Anatomical Cha- 

 racters of the Monkey Tribe, and more particularly of the 

 Orang-utang and Chimpanse. — Specific Character of Man. 



Mirantur aliquialtitudinesmontium, ingcntes fluctus maris, altissimos lapsus 

 iluminuin, et gyros siderum : — relinquunt seipsos nee mirantur." 



S AUGUSTINUS. 



The natural history of man, in its most comprehensive 

 sense, constitutes a subject of immense extent and of endless 

 variety ; or rather includes several very important subjects, 

 if w^e attempt to describe both the individual and the species. 

 In a complete history of man, it would be necessary, in re- 

 spect to the former, to relate the phenomena of his first 

 production, to examine his anatomical structure, his bodily 

 and intellectual functions, his propensities and feelings, his 

 diseases — and to pursue his progress from the time of birth 

 to the grave : in reference to the latter, to point out the 

 circumstances that distinguish him from other animals, and 

 determine the precise degree and kind of resemblance or 

 difference, of specific affinity or diversity between them and 

 ourselves ; to compare or contrast with each other the va- 

 rious nations or tribes of human beings ; to delineate the 

 physical and moral characters of the people inhabiting the 

 different portions of the globe, and to trace their progress 

 from the first rudiments of civil society to the state at which 

 they are now arrived. To write such a history of our spe- 

 cies would demand a familiar acquaintance with nearly the 



