OF THE HUMAN SPECIES 



455 



over fifty degrees of latitude, and that food, dress, state of 

 civilization, peculiar customs, or other moral causes, are 

 equally inefficacious in accounting for the phenomenon, when 

 we consider how various in all these points the nations are 

 in whom it occurs, will be allowed by every unprejudiced 

 observer. 



The middle and northen parts of Asia, and most of its 

 eastern portion, are occupied by tribes and nations, all of 

 which possess the general characters of the Mongolian 

 variety, although distinguished from each other by such 

 modifications as usually characterize separate people. They 

 are distinct in their conformation from all other races, and 

 differ from Europeans quite as decidely as the Negroes. 

 History points out as their original seat, the elevated cen- 

 tral table-land of Asia, from which they have spread in 

 various directions, according to circumstances, every where 

 preserving their peculiar traits of organization. The Mon- 

 gols, Calmucks, and Burats are three great divisions, of 

 which each includes many tribes, scattered over the middle 

 of Asia, leading generally a pastoral life, sometimes prac- 

 tising agriculture, and devoted universally to the idolatrous 

 lama worship. Their first distinct appearance in history is 

 under the name of Huns (Hiong-nu of the Chinese), in the 

 first century of the Christian era, when they were impelled 

 towards the west by the progress of the Chinese power. 

 Afterwards, three great conquerors appeared among them 

 at distant periods, — the most conspicuous that the world has 

 ever seen, who made all Asia and Europe tremble, but, hap- 

 pily, appeared and vanished like meteors ; because, though 

 powerful in conquest and desolation, they knew not how to 

 possess and govern. Attila with his Huns, penetrated 

 into the centre of Europe. Eight centuries later, Zingis 

 or DscHiNGis Khan united not only the Mongolian but the 

 Tataric tribes, and with this formidable mass reduced nearly 

 all Asia. In two hundred years more, Timurleng or Tamer- 

 lane appeared, and rendered himself the terror of western 

 Asia and India, which latter country has been ruled by his 

 descendants until very modern times. The Mantchoos or 

 Mandshurs, the Daourians, Tungooses, Coreans, Kamschat- 



