B1MANA. 41 



remained in the keeping of the nations which have composed it for more than 

 three thousand years. 



It was preceded in Europe by the Celts, who came from the north, and 

 whose tribes, once very numerous, are now confined (to its most eastern ex- 

 tremity ; also by the Cantabrians, who passed from Africa into Spain, and are 

 now confounded with the many nations whose posterity have intermingled in 

 that peninsula. 



The ancient Persians originate from the same source as the Indians, and 

 their descendants to the present hour bear great marks of resemblance to the 

 people of Europe. 



The predatory tribes'of the Scythian and Tartar branch, extending at first 

 to the north and north-east, always wandering over the immense plains of 

 those countries, returned only to devastate the happier abodes of their more 

 civilised brethren. The Scythians, who, at so remote a period, made irrup- 

 tions into Upper Asia ; the Parthians, who there destroyed the Greek and 

 Roman domination ; the Turks, who there subverted that of the Arabs, and 

 subjugated in Europe the unfortunate remnant of the Grecian people, all 

 swarmed from this prolific branch. The Finlanders and Hungarians are 

 tribes of the same division, which have strayed among the Sclavonic and 

 Teutonic nations. Their original country, to the north and north-east of the 

 Caspian Sea, still contains inhabitants who have the same origin, and speak 

 similar languages, but mingled with other petty nations, variously descended, 

 and of different languages. The Tartars remained unmixed longer than the 

 other nations included in the country between the mouth of the Danube to 

 beyond the Irtisch, from which they so long menaced Russia, and where 

 they have been finally subjugated by her. The Mongoles, however, have 

 mingled their blood with that of those they conquered, many traces of which 

 may still be found among the inhabitants of Lesser Tartary. 



It is to the east of this Tartar branch of the Caucasian that the Mon- 

 golian race begins, whence it extends to the Eastern Ocean. Its branches, the 

 Calmucs, &c., still wandering shepherds, are constantly traversing the desert. 

 Thrice did their ancestors, under Attila, Genghis, and Tamerlane, spread far 

 the terror of their name. The Chinese are the earliest and most civilised 

 branch not only of this race, to which they belong, but of all the nations upon 

 earth. A third branch, the Mantchures, recently conquered, and still govern 

 China. The Japanese, Coreans, and nearly all the hordes which extend to the 

 north-east of Siberia, subject to Russia, are also to be considered, in a great 

 measure, as originating from this race ; and such also is esteemed to be 

 the case with the original inhabitants of various islands of that archipelago. 

 With the exception of a few Chinese literati, the different nations of the 

 Mongoles are universally addicted to Buddism, or the religion of Fo. 



The origin of this great race appears to have been in the mountains of Atlai, 

 but it is impossible to trace the filiation of its different branches with the same 

 certainty as we have done those of the Caucasian. The history of these 

 wandering nations is as fugitive as their establishments ;. and that of the 



