BIMANA, OR MAN. 
49 
only been carried to a high degree since the invention of agriculture and the division of the 
soil into hereditary possessions. By means of agriculture, the manual labour of a portion 
of society is adequate to the maintenance of the whole, and allows the remainder time 
for less necessary occupations, at the same time that the hope of acquiring, by industry, a 
comfortable subsistence for self and posterity, has given a new spring to emulation. The 
discovery of a representative of property, or a circulating medium, has carried this emulation 
to the highest degree, by facilitating exchanges, and rendering fortunes more independent and 
susceptible of being increased ; but by a necessary consequence, it has also equally increased 
the vices of effeminacy and the furies of ambition. 
In every stage of the developement of society, the natural propensity to reduce all knowledge 
i to general principles, and to search for the causes of each phenomenon, has produced reflecting 
men, who have added new ideas to those already accumulated ; nearly all of whom, while know- 
1 ledge was confined to the few, endeavom-ed to convert their intellectual superiority into the 
j means of domination, exaggerating their merit in the eyes of others, and disguising the j 
' poverty of their knowledge by the propagation of superstitious ideas. 
An evil more irremediable, is the abuse of physical power ; now that Man only can injure 
Man, he affords the only instance of a species continually at war with itself. Savages dispute 
their forests, and herdsmen their pastures ; and make irruptions, as often as they can, upon 
the cultivators of the soil, to deprive them of the fruits of their long and painful labours. 
Even civilized nations, far from being satisfied with their enjoyments, carry on war for the 
[ prerogative of pride, or the monopoly of commerce. Hence the necessity of governments 
! to direct the national wars, and to repress or reduce to regular forms the quarrels of 
I individuals. 
i| Circumstances, more or less favourable, have restrained the social condition within limited 
Ij degrees, or have promoted its developement. 
I The glacial climates of the north of both continents, and the impenetrable forests of 
I America, are still inhabited by the savage hunter or fisherman. The immense sandy or salt 
plains of Central Asia and Africa are covered with a pastoral people, and innumerable herds : 
ii these half-civilized hordes assemble at the call of every enthusiastic chief, and overrun the 
ij cultivated countries that surround them, in which they estabhsh themselves but to become 
I enervated, and to be subjected in their turn to the next invaders. This is the true cause of 
|| that despotism, which, in every age, has crushed the industry called forth under the fine 
ij climates of Persia, India, and China. 
Mild climates, soils naturally irrigated and rich in vegetables, are the natmal cradle of 
i agriculture and civilization ; and when their position is such as to afford shelter from the 
Ij incursions of barbarians, talents of every kind are mutually excited ; such were formerly (the 
! first in Europe,) Italy and Greece ; and such is, at present, nearly all that happy portion of 
j the earth’s surface. 
1 There are, however, certain intrinsic causes which appear to arrest the progress of particular 
I races, even though situated amidst the most favourable circumstances. 
i 
I VAUIETIES OF THE HUMAN SPECIES. 
I Although the human species would appear to be single, since the union of any of its members pro- 
li duces individuals capable of propagation*, there are, nevertheless, certain hereditary peculiarities of 
ii conformation observable, which constitute what are termed races. 
j Three of these in particular appear eminently distinct : the Caucasian, or white, the Mongolian, or 
I yellow, and the Ethiopian, or negro. 
I The Caucasian, to which we belong, is distinguished by the beauty of the oval which forms the 
* It is now certain that this circumstance afifords no proof of spe- i which I have just witnessed, in the class of birds, of a brood of ducks, 
cifical identity, inasmuch as many nearly allied but obviously dis- both parents of which were half mallard and half pintail {Anas boschas 
tinct species produce hybrids that are prolific inter se ; an instance of | and A. acuta). See note to p. 19 . — Ed. 
