10 



PHYSICAL HISTORY OF MAN. 



penned an opinion, that the races of men were five in number. Soon, 

 however, I was compelled to admit three more : neither was this the 

 limit of the productiveness of nature, in new and undreamt of com- 

 binations of feature. 



More careful observation than at the outset had seemed necessary, 

 was now called into requisition ; and often, for a time, I experienced 

 perplexity. One difficulty arose, in fixing in the mind, while passing 

 from place to place, the relative shades of complexion. Fortunately 

 for my purpose, tattooing was practised in many of the countries 

 visited, and these markings aff'orded a convenient test of the depth of 

 hue. Individuals also, of three or more races being present among 

 the crews of our vessels, afforded the means of making some direct 

 comparisons. In the end all difficulties vanished, and I was enabled 

 to arrive at satisfactory conclusions. 



It should be observed, that in the countries visited by the Expedi- 

 tion, the inhabitants present among themselves great uniformity of 

 feature and complexion. While in the Arab countries and in Western 

 Hindostan, there is an astonishing diversity of aspect in the popula- 

 tion ; independently, to all appearance, of the great mixture of races. 

 The mountain region of Abyssinia, is said likewise to present a 

 seemingly heterogeneous population; but in all the countries which I 

 have myself visited, the varieties of feature have appeared susceptible 

 of reduction to the arrangement adopted in the present work. 



I have seen in all eleven races of men ; and though I am hardly 

 prepared to fix a positive limit to their number, I confess after having 

 visited so many different parts of the globe, that I am at a loss where 

 to look for others. They may be enumerated conveniently enough 

 in the order of complexion ; and beginning with the lightest, I will 

 add, some of the more obvious distinctive characters. 



a. White. 



1. Arabian. The nose prominent, the lips thin, the beard abun- 

 dant, and the hair straight or flovi'ing. 



2. Abyssinian. The complexion hardly becoming florid ; the nose 

 prominent, and the hair crisped. 



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