family of simiæ and the tribe of orangs in particular, there
are satisfactory grounds for believing that the full term of
existence for the chimpanzé, or, troglodytè> is about thirty
years. This is a longer period of life than other naturalists
have attributed to any of the tribe, and may perhaps be con-
siderecLss its full period of longevity.
Paragraph 4.—Of the Progress of Physical Developement,
the Periodical Phenomena of the Constitution, the state of
the Natural and Vital Functions in different Races.
There are many circumstances connected with the state of
th e natural end vital functidns which are' gtrikis^ly characteristic
of species, as being remarkably uniform within the
limits of gne species, and different in races well known to be
distinct. Among these, the specific temperature of the body,
tho frequency of the pulse and states o f all the
physical life are included, as well as. all the phenomena relating
to breeding in the economy of the female.
The specific temperature, and the ordinary frequency of,the ‘
pulse, are well known to b n nearly uniform in a lt races,„of
men.
With respect to the periodical phenomena of the constitution,
before we can appreciate the differences which may belong, t f
races of men, we must first advert to those which are the
immediate results of external agencies, particularly o f circumstances
related to climate. It is well known that climates
give rise to a considerable difference in the period of puberty,
which is much more early in hot than in cold countries, in
the same races of people. The period • of child-bearing is
generally observed to commence and cease at a younger age
in tropical climates than in temperate ones, and to be latest
of all in extremely cold countries. There is also a consider*
able variation dependent on the habits of society. The
women of J;he peasantry in Europe ..have a more tardy
appearance of the catamenia than the inhabitants of cities>
especially the higher orders. In the, state of manners which
exists in populous cities, the time at which these phenomena
commence is much accelerated ; they are greater in degree,
and occasion much more disturbance, in the system, by their
excess and'occasional irregularities^
In England, the age. at which the catamenié, make their
appearance'is -generally about'^thirteen or fourteen years,
sometimes' a year''or two. earlier or later*; and the a’ge of
puberty in, the male sexds from fourteen to sixteen years. In
the north of France, .a difference is- perceptiblfe :in thfese
periods^ which are accelerated: invproporliori .40' the tempera*
ture.* In Italy, the phenomena iof tffe female economy
relatedio thé uterine system are, established- at twelveyfe&rs
of age, and'in the south of Spain marriages take place at that
period^ \In Minorca, according tovGKghbHiV puberty edm-1
mences at the eleventh year,»'and at Smyrna> rihmen are sometimes
mothers at elëven. o r twelve years of fagevi In Persia,
Ohardln reports that the females have thé. catamenia at nine
or ten'years offagé'. 1 The agè iof ten isfthe ordinary period;
y e t e d m f ^ lliebu'hr,' in Arabia. In Jamaica^ isays: Mr. Tong,
thewomen a'ttairi earlier cto'maturity^ andf^oóper decline than
in th é northern climates: they often marry very: y®,ung, arid
are mothers a f twelve, years oh agev^•
" Diversities of_an opposite kind <are observed in northern'
climates. ’ In the north of Germanyj thej,,-catamenia do inot
eommêrié'e rintib the fifteenth year, according to BlUméribach.
In some parts of Europe, the period is s till more tardy;
7Linneeus informs^Us, that the women,of the Laplanders
have the catamenia, in general, less copious than the Swedes.
He adds, that obstructions _of the ) catamenia ;are very rare
among them, excepting those who live.,.in the service' .'of. the
colonists1; these are occasionally troubled with such irregularities,
and are subject, in consequence;: like the females of
other’ races, to epistaxis and cfedematous: swellings1 of thé
legs, v
Such being the variety in this respect which Obviously
results from climate in the European races andviri Asiatics of
the same complexion and physical variety, we may expect to
find a difference between the inhabitants of Europe and;fhé|
native people of Africa and America.
* Fitzgerald, Hem. p. 3. Virey, Gen. Horn. p. 130. t Virey, 130, tom. i.
K 2