INTRODUCTION. 



The subject of the " Natural History of Man" lias become one of 

 the most exciting topics of the day, both from its intrinsic interest 

 and importance, and from the various bearings which have been 

 given to it by sectarians, philanthropists, and savans. It is not a 

 question of one side only, as many take for granted, nor has it 

 become two-sided within the last few years. As long ago as the 

 appearance of the work of Lawrence, scientific men maintained 

 conflicting opinions on the original seats and characteristics of the 

 human races ; and the great advances now made in zoology, com- 

 parative anatomy, history, geography, philology, &c, have added 

 new arguments to both sides of the question, and rendered a satis- 

 factory decision an exceedingly difficult matter. 



Dr. Prichard may be considered as the best expounder of the 

 theory of the original unity of the human race. The author to whose 

 work this chapter is introductory, adopts the side of the question 

 to which Prof. Agassiz, Van Amringe, Dr. S. G. Morton, and 

 others, give their sanction, in variously modified forms. The argu- 

 ments of authors on both sides will be given as impartially as we are 

 able to do it, and as fully as space will permit ; so that the reader 

 may form his own opinion. A sketch of the views of those who 

 are not committed to either side will also be added, so that informa- 

 tion from all sources may aid in the formation of a just opinion. 



Lawrence, following the classification of Blumenbach, divides 

 Man into five varieties, viz., the Caucasian, the Mongolian, the Ethi- 

 opian, the American, and the Malay ; wifh the following characters : 



1. The Caucasian variety (to which we belong) is so named, from 

 Mt. Caucasus, as in its neighborhood is found the supposed typical 

 race of the Circassians and Georgians. It includes the following 

 nations, ancient and modern — the Assyrians, Medes, Persians, Jews, 

 Egyptians, Chaldeans, Georgians, Circassians, Armenians, Turks, 

 Arabs, Syrians, Afghans, Hindoos of high caste, Moors of Northern 



