366 DIVISION I. VERTEBRAL ANIMALS. — CLASS I. MAMMALIA. 
also is deemed to be the fact with regard to the original inhabitants of van- 
ous islands bordering on that archipelago. With the exception of some 
Chinese literati, the nations of the Mongolian race pertain generally to dif- 
ferent sects of Buddhism, or the religion of Fo. 
The origin of this great race appears to have been in the Altai Mountains, 
as that of ours in the Caucasus; but it is impossible to trace with the same 
certainty the filiation of its different branches. The history of these wan- 
dering nations is as fugitive as their establishments ; and that of the Chinese, 
confined exclusively to their own empire, furnishes little that is satisfactory 
with respect to their neighbors. The affinities of their languages are also 
too little known to direct us in this labyrinth. 
One branch of this race, although of no account in the scale of nations, 
yet occupying as it does so singular a geographical position, and separated 
from the parent stock by oceans and continents, deserves a more particular 
description. We refer to the Esquimaux, who are found in the northern 
parts of our continent. By most persons they are regarded as Indians, 
and are spoken of as such. But they have no characters in common with 
the Indians. In stature, complexion, and the position of the eyes they are 
entirely different. There is yet another point of difference between this peo- 
ple and the Indians: from Cape Farewell to Behring’s Strait, the Esquimaux 
speak one language, and derive almost their whole subsistence from the sea ; 
whereas the Indians never resort to fishing where they can do otherwise, and 
speak a great variety of dialects, even when the language of the several 
tribes is radically the same. 
The average height of those in Greenland and the eastern part of Amer- 
ica is beneath five feet. They are deficient in physical strength, and the 
muscle of even the young and strong men is not prominent or well devel- 
oped. The necks of the men are small and shrivelled ; those of the women 
are well proportioned. Distended abdomen is universal among them, but 
corpulence is not common. Both sexes dress alike. Their dress consists of 
a jacket, with a hood, a pair of breeches, which reach below the knee, and 
an enormous pair of boots —all of seal-skin. The jacket has one flap be- 
fore and another behind, both of which hang nearly to the ground. These 
habiliments, doubled, or even trebled, are their protection in winter and 
summer. Sometimes these garments are made of other materials. The 
clothing of the children does not differ from that of adults. Their principal 
articles of food are train oil and the flesh of seals and walruses. These 
animals are watched for hours on the ice, and finally despatched with spears. 
In summer the Esquimanx kill a few reindeer, and in districts where they 
are found, musk oxen. They also attack and destroy the polar bear. Their 
only arms are spears, and bows and arrows —all or most of which weapons 
