BIMANA. 43 
unity, certain hereditary peculiarities of conformation are observed, which 
constitute what are termed races. 
Three of them in particular appear very distinct—the Caucasian or 
white, the Mongolian or yellow, and the Ethiopian or negro. 
The Caucasian, to which we belong, is distinguished by the beauty of 
the oval formed by his head, varying in complexion and the colour of 
the hair. ‘To this variety, the most highly civilized nations, and those 
which have generally held all others in subjection, are indebted for their 
origin. 
The Mongolian is known by his high cheek bones, flat visage, narrow 
and oblique eyes, straight black hair, scanty beard and olive complexion. 
Great empires have been established by this race in China and Japan, and 
their conquests been extended to this side of the Great Desert. In civi- 
lization, however, it has always remained stationary. 
The Negro race is confined to the south of mount Atlas; it is marked 
by a black complexion, crisped or woolly hair, compressed cranium, and a 
flat nose. The projection of the lower parts of the face, and the thick 
lips, evidently approximate it to the monkey tribe: the hordes of which it 
consists have always remained in the most complete state of utter bar- 
barism. 
The race from which we are descended has been called Caucasian, be- 
cause tradition and the filiation of nations seem to refer its origin to that 
group of mountains situated between the Caspian and Black seas, whence, 
as from a centre, it has been extended like the radii of a circle. Various 
nations in the vicinity of Caucasus, the Georgians and Circassians, are 
still considered the handsomest on earth. The principal ramifications 
of this race may be distinguished by the analogies of language. The Ar- 
menian or Syrian branch, stretching to the south, produced the Assyrians, 
the Chaldeans, the hitherto untameable Arabs, who, after Mahomet, were 
near becoming masters of the world; the Phcenicians, Jews, and Abyssini- 
ans, which were Arabian colonies; and most probably the Egyptians. It 
is from this branch, always inclined to mysticism, that have sprung the 
most widely extended forms of religion—the arts and literature have some- 
times flourished among its nations, but always enveloped in a strange dis- 
guise and figurative style. 
The Indian, German, and Pelasgic branch is much more extended, and 
was much earlier divided: notwithstanding which, the most numerous affi- 
nities may be observed between its four principal languages—the Sanscrit, 
the present sacred language of the Hindoos, and the parent of the greater 
number of the dialects of Hindostan; the ancient language of the Pelasgi, 
common mother of the Greek, Latin, many tongues that are extinct, and 
of all those of the south of Europe; the Gothic or Teutonic, from which 
are derived the languages of the north and north-west of Europe, such as 
the German, Dutch, English, Danish, Swedish, and other dialects; and 
moderately narrowed; the forehead is slightly arched; the face is large, and all its 
parts are fully developed; the jaws are more or less prominent; the skin is tawny, 
or clear mahogany or chesnut brown; the hair is black, soft, and curled.—There are 
thirty-four crania of this variety in the Hunterian Museum. (See Plate I. Mam- 
MALIA, Fig. 5: The portrait of Omai, a native of Ulietea, one of the Society 
Islands, brought to England in 1778, and carried back by Cook).—Ewne. Ep. 
