2 AUTHOR'S PREFACE. 



I may be blamed for having chosen the latter course ; the 

 more so, as with my limited means and the want of useful 

 authorities, there was no hope of an exhaustive employment of 

 existing materials. I must, under these circumstances, leave 

 the book to answer for itself. If it succeed in arousing an 

 interest for general questions concerning man, in advancing 

 the knowledge of human nature, of which still, here and there, 

 curious notions prevail, and thus laying the foundation for 

 future and better works, its object will be attained. 



With regard to the plan of the work, I have only to say, 

 that the succeeding volumes will contain ample proofs in sup- 

 port of the general principles advanced in the first volume. 

 These proofs will be found in the special descriptions of the 

 life of the peoples inhabiting Africa, America, and the South 

 Sea. The description of their external life will, as being less 

 characteristic and important, and also from being better known, 

 be treated less prominently ; whilst greater attention will be 

 devoted to the description of the psychical, moral, and intel- 

 lectual peculiarities of these nations. 



An accurate citation of authorities seemed to me indis- 

 pensable, both for control and for my justification. I have 

 therefore added the year of publication to the titles of the 

 works quoted, so that there may be no doubt as to the editions 

 I have consulted. Where Prichard is mentioned, without any 

 addition, the third original English edition of his large work 

 is alluded to. 



TH. WAITZ. 



Marburg, 30th October, 1858. 



