THE HUMAN SPECIES. 223 



the South Seas ; the American abnormal nations ; the Mon- 

 golic, or beardless ; and the Ouralian and Toorkee. From 

 these we arrive at the true Caucasian, whose early history, 

 being best known from the south-east side of the central region, 

 will require that first the mixed semi-woolly-haired tribes of 

 South and Western Asia be examined, in order that the great 

 influence and expansion of the bearded stock maybe established; 

 and the records of its principal races will form the remaining 

 subject of consideration. 



Beginning, therefore, with that form which may likewise, on 

 that account, be considered as the most ancient, we find, — 



THE WOOLLY-HAIRED TROPICAL TYPE.* 



The woolly-haired, tropical, dark-colored stock, improperly 

 caded Atlantic and Ethiopic, is considered to be most distinctly 

 typical, where the maximum of development is found, in the 

 peculiarities of structure and faculties that distinguish it from 

 the other normal forms. It is that which predominates in 

 Central and Western tropical Africa, — a form of Man of good 

 stature, though seldom attaining six feet in height, and falling 



* By this denomination is understood, not wool, strictly speaking, but 

 hair so highly frizzled as to appear like the wool of Iceland sheep, and in 

 coarseness so rude, that the wool of a Negro head, struck with the 

 knuckles, frequently cuts the skin to the bone. The pile of the beard, 

 &c, is equally file-like or lacerating. These effects we have repeatedly 

 witnessed. Though within the tropics no microscopes of sufficient power 

 were at hand to test the fact, the general impression was, that this kind 

 of hair is angular, and we doubt that Dr. Prichard's observations on the 

 subject are wholly satisfactory, — the less so since the hair of the head 

 seems to have been exclusively examined, in all the researches we have 

 been able to consult. 



