BIMANA. 51 



always inclined to mysticism, that have sprung the most widely extended 

 forms of religion — the arts and literature have sometimes flourished among 

 its nations, but always enveloped in a strange disguise and figurative style. 



The Indian, German, and Pelasgic branch is much more extended, and 

 was much earlier divided, notwithstanding which, the most numerous affini- 

 ties 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 finally, 

 the Sclavonian, from which spring those of the north-east, the Russian, 

 Polish, Bohemian, &c. 



It is by this great and venerable branch of the Caucasian stock, that 

 philosophy, the arts, and the sciences have been carried to the greatest 

 perfection, and remained in the keeping of the nations which compose it 

 for more than three thousand years. 



It was preceded in Europe by the Celts, who came from the north, whose 

 tribes, once very numerous, are now confined to its most eastern extremity, 

 and by the Cantabrians, who passed from Africa into Spain, now confound- 

 ed with the many nations whose posterity have intermingled in that pen- 

 insula. 



The ancient Persians originate from the same source as the Indians, and 

 their descendants to the present hour bear great marks of resemblance to 

 the people of Europe. 



The predatory tribes of the Scythian and Tartar branch, extending at 

 first to the north and north-east, always wandering over the immense plains 

 of those countries, returned only to devastate the happier abodes of their 

 more civilized brethren. The Scythians, who, at so jemote a period, 

 made irruptions into upper Asia; the Parthians, who there destroyed the 

 Greek and Roman domination; the Turks, who there subverted that of the 

 Arabs, and subjugated in Europe the unfortunate remnant of the Grecian 

 people, all swarmed from this prolific branch. The Finlanders and Hun- 

 garians are tribes of the same division, which have strayed among the 

 Sclavonic and Teutonic nations. Tiielr original country, to the north and 

 north-east of the Caspian sea still contains inhabitants who have the same 

 origin, and speak similar languages, but mingled with other petty nations, 

 variously descended, and of different languages. The Tartars remained 

 unmixed longer than the others in the country included between the mouth 

 of the Danube to beyond the Irtlsch, from which they so long menaced 

 Russia, and where they have finally been subjugated by her. The Mon- 

 goles, however, have mingled their blood with that of those they conquered, 

 many traces of which may still be found among the inhabitants of lesser 

 Tartary. 



It is to the east of this Tartar branch of the Caucasian race that the Mon- 



