AN'ISIALS. 387 



who have endured them all, and afterwards recovered without 

 any external assistance, to the astonishment of the spectators. 

 How careful, therefore, should we be, before we commit those 

 who are dearest to us to the grave, to be well assured of their 

 departure : experience, justice, humanity, all persuade us not to 

 hasten the funerals of our friends, but to keep their bodies uiv 

 buiied, until we have certain signs of their real decease. 



CHAP. XL 



OF THE VARIETIES IN THE HUMAN RACE.* 



Hitherto we have compared man with other animals ; we 

 now come to compare men with each other. We have hitherto 

 considered him as an individual, endowed with excellencies 

 above the rest of the creation ; we now come to consider the 



« The indiscriminate sexual intercourse among the human race, and the con 

 Bequent production of an offspring- capable of propagation, seem to prove 

 mankind to be but a single species. There are, however, certain hereditary 

 conformations which give rise to peculiar distinctions among them, and con- 

 stitute what are denominated farieties. 



Among these varieties Goldsmith has enumerated six, but there are three 

 which particularly merit attention, in consequence of the marked difference 

 existing between them. These are, I, the fair, or Caucasian variety ; 2, the 

 yellow, or Mongolian; 3, the Negro, or Ethiopian. 



The Caucasian, to which Europeans belong, is chiefly distinguished by 

 the beautiful form of the head, which approximates to a perfect oval. It is 

 also remarkable. for Viriations in the shade of the complexion, and co- 

 lour of the hair. From this variety have sprung the most civilized nations, 

 and such as have most generally exercised dominion over the rest of man- 

 kind. 



The Mongolian variety is recognized by prominent cheek-bones, flat visage, 

 narrow and oblique eyes, hair straight and black, scanty beard, and olivo 

 complexion. This race has formed mighty empires in China and Japan, 

 and occasionally extended its conquests on this side of the Great Desert, but 

 its civilization has long appeared stationary. 



The negro race is confined to the south of Mount Atlas. Its characters are, 

 black complexion, woolly hair, compressed cranium, and flatfish nose. In 

 the prominence of the lower part of the face, and the thickness of the lips, it 

 manifestly approaches to the monkey tribe. The hordes of which this variety 

 If composed have always remained in a state of complete barbarism. 



The Caucasian variety derives its name from the group of mo uitaiii'. be 



2 K 2 



