ORDER II. BIMANA. 379 
conduct them again into the desert, to form a new generation of bold and 
hardy warriors; there they pass thirty-eight years as a nomadic nation. 
After the death of their great lawgiver, on the summit of Mount Nebo, the 
Hebrews entered the land which contained the bones of their fathers, and 
the long-promised streams and mountains of their God. Joshua assumed 
the command, led them across the Jordan, and, after a contest of seven 
years, obtained possession of the country. This period of four hundred 
years may be considered as the heroic age of the nation. 
The most extraordinary fact in the natural history of this race, is the im- 
mutability of its physical characteristics. All written descriptions of early 
times, relative to the Jewish race, concur in establishing the permanence of 
their type. We are informed, by modern travellers, that the same features 
are common in Mesopotamia, their original seat, and also scattered through 
Persia, Afghanistan, &c., the direction in which, we are taught by the 
annals of modern times, some descendants of the ten tribes were dispersed, 
long after the Assyrian captivity in the eighth century B. C. In short, the 
Jewish features meet one in almost every country under the sun; but it is 
worthy of special remark, that Hebrew lineaments are found in no region 
whither history cannot track them, and rarely where their possessors do not 
acknowledge Jewish origin. Nor will the fact be questioned, we presume, 
that well-marked Israelitish features are never beheld out of that race; al- 
though it has very frequently been contended that Jews in certain climates 
have not only lost their own type, but have become transformed into other 
races ! 
The number of Jews now existing in the world (of those that are regard- 
ed as descendants in a direct line from, and maintaining the same laws with, 
their forefathers, who, above three thousand years ago, retreated from Egypt 
under the guidance of the lawgiver, Moses), is estimated by Weimer, Wolff, 
Milman, and others, variously, from three to five millions. In all climates 
and countries they are recognized as the same race. Weimer, whose statis- 
tics are lowest, gives the following : — 
* Arrica. — They are scattered along the whole coast, from Morocco to 
Egypt, besides being found in many other parts. Morocco and Fez, 300,- 
000; Tunis, 130,000; Algiers, 30,000; Gabes, or Habesh, 20,000; Trip- 
oli, 12,000, &e. Total, 504,000. 
* Asta. —In Mesopotamia and Assyria. The ancient seats of the Baby- 
lonian Jews are still occupied by 5270 families, exclusive of those of Bag-. 
dad and Bassora. Asiatic Turkey, 330,000; Arabia, 200,000 ; Hindostan, 
100,000; China, 60,000; Turkistan, 40,000; Province of Iran, 35,000, 
&e. Total, 738,000. 
“ Eurore. —Russia and Poland, 608,000; European Turkey, 321,000 ; 
