202 



NATURAL HISTORY OF 



through Persia and Syria. While a proportion of 

 black races may have coasted towards Africa, others 

 doubt passed through the isthmus of Suez, and by the 

 Arabian shore into their present central region, leavi 

 marks of their progress in the Mekran, and other fi 

 eating Suakim on the African shore. 



The Papuan stock, notwithstanding mental and phy- 

 sical deficiences, has advanced to the pastoral and even 

 agricultural conditions, when not molested by invaders, 

 and favoured probably by some foreign innervation ; 

 for, in a pure unmixed state, no eastern Negro tribe 

 has passed beyond the profession of hunter, or is ob- 

 servable on islands at more than a moderate distance 

 from its Australasian centre. The inapprehensive 

 character of their constitutions, or an impulse which 

 leads them to the sea, induces both African and Papua 

 stems readily to accept a marine mode of life. They 

 are generally excellent swimmers ; they dive fearlessly, 

 and will fight the shark in his own element. Yet 

 they have never invented the construction of large 

 canoes, such as the Malay and American make with so 

 much skill. The marine enterprise, however it may 

 have been occasioned, is manifest even among tribes 

 residing far inland;* such, for example, are the brave 



* The fearless propensity to venture on the sea, was 

 shown in Jamaica, during our residence on the island, by 

 two very young new Negro lads, both natives of the inte- 

 rior of Africa, who could know little more of a water life 

 than perhaps fishing on the Niger ; yet they stole a canoe ; 

 and, unprovided with food or water, went to sea from Port 

 Royal harbour, with the resolution of returning to their 

 own counjry! The poor lads were fortunately picked up 



the 



s 



