THE PRINCIPAL BRANCHES OF THE HUMAN RACE. 



(fig. 183) is, indeed, distorted by art ; but its distortion has only pro- 

 duced an augmentation of its natural characters, which consist in its great 

 elongation, from the superior margin of the orbits to the occiput, and in 

 the depression of its frontal and vertical portions. -The narrowness of the 

 frontal portion, and the general elongation of the skull, are also remark- 

 able in the Negro (fig. 182) ; while, as compared with the symmetrical 

 skull of the Caucasian (fig. 180), the vertical outline of which approaches 

 an oval, that of the Mongole (fig. 181) displays the opposite character, 

 being nearly round, and remarkable for the great breadth between the 

 malar bones and zygomatic arches, which are boldly prominent. 



Whether all mankind are the descendants of one common parentage, 

 or whether distinct primitive origins were created, is a subject which 

 has been often agitated, and the advocates on each side of the question 

 have maintained their respective opinions with a degree of dogmatism 

 proportioned to the difficulty and perplexity of the investigation. 



While some writers positively deny the original creation of distinct 

 types of our species, others as confidently speak of the Negro, Eu- 

 ropean, Hottentot, Chinese, and American types, as if we had a certain 

 history of the details connected with the primeval condition of our spe- 

 cies ; or, as though a map of the migrations and wanderings of our race 

 could be accurately drawn out, and the starting-points clearly ascertained. 

 " II n'est permis qu'a un aveugle," says Voltaire, " de douter que les 

 Blancs> les Negres, les Albinos, les Hottentots, les Lappons, les Chinois, 

 les Americains, soient des races entierement differentes." 



Nevertheless, the philosopher can only form conjectures, based upon 

 probabilities, deduced from an examination of languages, manners, and 

 customs, and an attentive scrutiny of physical peculiarities ; but, after 

 all, uncertainty hangs over every hypothesis, and the most positive dog- 

 mata are to be received with caution. 



That the human race, as diffused over the globe, is subdivided into 

 distinct varieties, may be inferred from abundant evidences. The inha- 

 bitants of various regions differ from each other, not only in language 

 and manners, but also in certain physical traits, and in points of organic 

 conformation, which are transmitted pure and unaltered from generation 

 to generation, unless where they become modified by an intermixture 

 of the occupants of one region with those of another. Almost every 

 nation has its own peculiarities. The English, the French, the Italians, 

 the Spaniards, have each their national stamp of features ; but these 

 variations are trifling, and of a subordinate character.* It is not with 



* The subordinate variations of the human species, in form, complexion, and language, are 

 almost infinite, and are still undergoing, as they.have undergone, continual modifications, according to 

 the advance of civilization, the intercourse of nation with nation, and the extent of international 

 alliances. 



