236 PHYSICAL INVESTIGATION. [PART I. 



(Europeans and Asiatics in the west and south of these parts, 

 as far as India) ; broad skulls (Mongols and many Malay peo- 

 ples) ; long skulls (Negroes) . These three chief types are also 

 found in the New World: the first among the Natchez and 

 Choctaws ; the second among the Caribs and Macusis ; the 

 third in Peru, among the Huancas and Incas ; so that we have, 

 on the whole, six chief divisions. Between the above extreme 

 types there are intermediate forms, probably the result of in- 

 termixture. Thus the Turks, Slaves, Magyars, Finns, Lapps, 

 and many Malay peoples, are intermediate between the Mongol 

 and Caucasian ; the Papuas, Alfurus, and Hottentots, between 

 the Mongol and Negro-type ; the latter originating, perhaps, 

 from intermixture between Negroes and Malays. 



The preceding synopsis of the chief attempts of classifications 

 shows one fact very clearly, namely, the disagreement of all 

 authors who have treated of this subject, both in principle and 

 execution, whenever they pass beyond the three chief types 

 which distinguish the Negro, the Mongol, and the European. 

 This disagreement either proves that the subject is indefinite, 

 or that science is as yet not sufficiently advanced to give a de- 

 cisive answer. 



It cannot be our intention to depreciate the meritorious* 

 efforts as regards the investigation of the cranial race-theory. 

 It is highly probable that there exists in every people a national 

 form of skull, to establish which would be of great ethno- 

 graphic interest. There is, however, no question that the in- 

 ferences of identity of tribe from an identity of skull, or of 

 consanguinity from a similar cranial shape, are as doubtful as 

 the conclusions to a different stock from a deviating cranial 

 form ; for similar types are presented by peoples living at the 

 most remote distances from each other, who cannot, without a 

 far-fetched hypothesis, be presumed to be allied ; whilst, on the 

 other hand, great varieties of cranial forms are found among 

 peoples whose consanguinity is undeniable. Finally, the varia- 

 tion of shape in individual national types is as yet too little 

 known to determine which form is within or without the sphere 

 of that particular type. 



How cautious we should be in concluding from cranial mea- 



