OF THE HUMAN SPECIES. 459 



When we consider bow large an extent of Africa is occu- 

 pied by the black woolly-haired Negroes; and that these 

 regions vary in their latitude, their elevation, and every other 

 point ; that they include sandy deserts, coasts, rivers, hills, 

 valleys, and very great varieties of climate ; the conclusion 

 that these adventitious circumstances do not influence the 

 colour or other properties of the race is irresistible. 



It only remains for us to examine the continent of Ame- 

 rica ; which, as it stretches uninterruptedly from the neigh- 

 bourhood of the north pole to 55^ S. lat. and includes re- 

 gions diversified in every possible way, affords the most 

 ample opportunity for the developement of all the changes 

 that climate and position can produce : and to examine 

 whether the facts ascertained concerning its inhabitants are 

 more favourable to the hypothesis under consideration, than 

 what we have observed m the other three divisions of the 

 world. 



The reports of travellers are unanimous concerning the 

 identity of general character in the whole American race : 

 copper-coloured skin : long and straight black hair, and 

 a certain cast of features, are said to belong to all the in- 

 habitants of this extensive continent. How remarkable this 

 agreement is, may be collected from the statement some- 

 times made, that a person who has seen one may consider 

 that he has seen all ; which, however, in its full extent, 

 must be regarded as an exaggerated or partial view. The 

 Eskimaux are not included in this account; their colour is 

 more of the olive cast; in which, as well as in other points, 

 they betray their Mongolian origin. They retain in America 

 the same characters which distinguish the Mongolian tribes, 

 and natives of the old continent. 



The most intelligent and accurate observers have informed 

 us that nearly all the native tribes, whether of the northern, 

 middle, or southern parts of America, have the skin of a 

 more or less red tint ; and some of them expressly state that 

 its lighter or darker shades are entirely uninfluenced by any 

 of the causes connected with geographical position. 



" The Indians (Americans)," says Ulloa, " are of a 



