in the preceding pages, were merely an adoration of the
visible objects1-of nature. The bloody sacrifices of Kali
or the Black Goddess of Indian mountaineers, are relics
of the rude" and barbarous rites celebrated among ..the hill
tribes ofi the Dekhan long before the conquests of Rama
or the proselyting zeal of Agastya introduced among them
a more refined and less cruel system of idolatry.
We may conclude with the general observation, that all
the different tribes of the human family, whose history we
have surveyed, though the conceptions which they form of
the nature and attributes of the divine rulers of the world
and avengers of guilt differ in different countries according
to the different degrees of mental culture, are yet.*.completely
in harmony with each other if we scrutinize the-
moral sentiments and impressions which have exercised so
extensive an influence on their imaginations.
S ec t io n III.—Physical Observations deduced the
Comparative Survey ofEuropean and‘ Asiatic Races.
Under the head of physical observations ob the Asiatic
and European races, and with- reference at present more
especially to the former, we must take notice of< phenomena
displayed by the conformation of the skull and other bony
parts in particular tribes, and 'to the changes observed to
take place within the limits of particular families, and likewise
of the phenomena of colour or complexion in different
nations.
We have repeatedly observed that two principal types
of organisation have been recognised among the Asiatic
races. One of these is the form termed in this work Turanian,
an expression more general than that of Mongolian,
and fitter to denote the physical character which is common
to all nomadic nations of Great Tartary and to the wandering
hordes of the Frozen Coast. The other is the Indo-
European, Iranian or Arian type. The former seems to
be the ancient character of all those tribes who constituted
the principal population of High Central Asia, whether
referrible .to. the -Mongolian, Turkish, or Tungusian race.
It belongs-al sob to - a variety of nomadic races whom we
.su p p o s é havfei»s:oended from the High Plains in different
directions? and.at different times,-*? In those races who have
retainedlfSieir ancient manner? of .existence, -in all the tent-
dwelling, roving- hordes!this character is still prevalent.
Among. tke^settledd#bes who have* ceased do nomadise and
have^Cc'qme tillers , of the* soil or inhabitants of towns, it
has given way a physical character resembling that of
the European and Iranian, race a a
The Mongolian-race,., properly ,so termed, are all no-,
mades, and among1 them, allotype' of ? organisation which
Blumeâikch désignât R a fte r their name isy still universal.
Butesisome; -of thei-Tungusians have become partly
bivrlised.. Among -the* Mandschû Tartars who ai^sof this
naee, travellers have:; observed numerous individuals who
app^acVthe northern Europeans indentures and complexion"
A' similar.. observation applies- still more, extensively
to the races inhabiting*theieastern-border of Asia,
allied, though perhaps remotely, to- the- great nomadie
families of-the Central Highland. Among the Koorai and
the people "Of Nippon European forms are frequently seen,
and the xanthous complexion is mi,many places prevalent,
though great bodies of men among these nations still display
the type impressed of old on the ancestral stock. In
the contre and-the west of Asia the Turkish .race, as we
have seen, as well as the Finnish or Ugrian tribes, present
Very similar phenomena. The nomadic Turks and the
nomadic tribes allied to; the Ugrian race have the Turanian
or Tartar physiognomy not less strongly marked than the
Mongoles themselves; Not so 'the.-civilised Finns and the
settled Tartars and the Osmanli and other descendants of
the old Seljukiyan Turks. I shall not enlarge further on
this topic : the reader may trace particular instances by referring
to the general observations at the end of each chapter
in the history of the races above named. - “
With respect to the varieties of colour discoverable
among the Asiatic nations so much has already been said
under particular topics that it is unnecessary to add more