HISTORY OF MEXICO. 



257 



ed by them in the truth of the Italian proverb taken 

 from the Greek, Tutto il mondo e paefe. But leaving 

 afide the prejudices and prepolTeffions of .that philofo- 

 pher and his partizans againfl: the other claffes of men, 

 we mail only treat of that which he has written againfl 

 the native Americans, as they are the mod injured and 

 the leaft defended. If in the writing of this DiiTertation 

 we had given way to intcreft or pailion, we would 

 rather have undertaken the defence of the Creoles, 

 which, befides that it would have been more eafy, mould 

 naturally have interefted us more. We are defcended 

 of Spanifli parents, we have no affinity or relation to 

 the Indians, nor can we hope for any recompenfe from 

 their mifery : our motive is the love of truth, and the 

 caufe of humanity. 



SECT. I. 



Of the Corporeal Qualities of the Mexicans. 



Mr. de Paw, who finds fault with the itature, the 

 formation, and the fuppofed irregularities of the animals 

 of America, has not been more indulgent towards its 

 men. If the animals appeared to him a fixth part lefs 

 in fize than thofe of Europe, the men, as he reports, are 

 alfo fmaller than the Caftilians. If in the animals he re- 

 marked the want of tail, in the men he complains of the 

 want of hair. If in the animals he found many (hiking 

 deformities, in the men he abufes the complexion and 

 ftiape. If he believed that the animals there, were not 

 fo ftrong as thofe of the old continent, he affirms, in like 

 manner, that the men are feeble in extreme, and fubject 



Vol. III. L 1 to 



