PHYSICAL HISTORY OF MAN. 



CHAPTEE 1. 



ENUMERATION OP THE RACES. 



Three races of men are familiarly known in the United States, and 

 are admitted by general consent. The same three physical races 

 have been considered by eminent naturalists, (who, however, have not 

 travelled), to comprise all the varieties of the human family. Blumen- 

 bach has indicated a fourth race, the Malay ; and even a fifth has 

 been shadowed forth in the accounts of the Australian Seas. It was 

 impossible, however, from the materials furnished by books, to define 

 the geographical boundaries of these races; a point which seemed of 

 importance, as forming in a good degree the basis of our reasoning 

 on the whole subject. 



This then was one of the objects of investigation I proposed to 

 myself on joining the Exploring Expedition : and my previous ex- 

 perience as a naturalist, a pursuit calling for the constant exercise of 

 the powers of discrimination, gave me some advantages in conducting 

 the inquiry. 



At one time during the voyage, I thought my task nearly accom- 

 plished; and after visiting Australia and New Zealand, I actually 



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