FT. in. Progress and Civilisation. 135 



period, our knowledge of races and of nations 

 acquires distinctness ; we recognise them through 

 successive periods, as retaining the same features, and 

 it is wonderful how accurately their characteristics 

 are reproduced during long ages. 



The origin of Man is involved, and probably 

 will always continue to remain, in impenetrable 

 obscurity; but were even the- most correct know- 

 ledge of it obtained, we should probably add little 

 more to our stock of information. It would most 

 likely be the history of savage and migratory tribes 

 in the earliest stages of civilisation. It might be 

 compared to the biography of an individual in 

 infancy, which would contain few or no indications 

 of his future character. We possess perhaps all the 

 materials necessary to the knowledge of Man from 

 as early a period as there was anything to be known ; 

 it is certain at least that the histories are abundant 

 and increasing which may enable us to estimate his 

 nature. One great subject of controversy meets us 

 at the very threshold of our inquiries. It is the 

 question, Whether the human race spring from one 

 common origin, or whether the varieties of the great 

 family of Man arise from distinct sources ? On this 

 subject physiologists are much divided. Some dwell 



