the Indian everywhere. There are a few trivial exceptions, easily
accounted for, particularly on the Pacific coast.
The eastern part of Asia presents a parallel case. From 65° north
latitude to the Equator, it presents the greatest inequalities of surface
and climate, and is peopled throughput by the yellow, lank-haired
Mongols; the darkest families lying at the Forth, and the fairest at
the South. Their crania, their instincts, them whole moral and physical
characteristics, distinguish them from the American race, which
otherwise they most resemble.
The other half of this northern continent, that is to say Europe and
the rest of Asia, may he divided into a northern and a southern province.
The first extends from the Polar region to 45° or 50° north
latitude—from Scandinavia to the Caspian Sea; and contains a group
of men with light hair, complexion fair and rosy, and blue eyes.
The second or southern division, running north-west and south-east,
stretches from the British Isles to Bengal and the extremity of Hindostán—
from 50° to 8° or 10° north. This vast areá is covered, by
people with complexions more or less dark, oval faces, black smooth
hair, and black eyes.
How, it is worthy of remark, that since the discovery of America,
and during several centuries, the fair races have inhabited Forth
America extensively, while the dark races, as the Spaniards, have
occupied South and Central America, and Mexico; both have displaced
the Aboriginal races, and yet neither has made approximation
in type to the latter, nor does any person suppose they could in a
hundred generations. And so with the Fegroes, who have lived here
through eight or ten generations. We have no more reason to suppose
that an Anglo-Saxon will turn into an Indian, than imported
cattle into buffaloes. We shall show, in another chapter, that the
oldest Indian crania from the Mounds, some of which are probably
several thousand years old, hear no resemblance to those of any race
of the old continent.
When we come to Africa, we shall perceive various groups of peculiar
types occupying their appropriate zoological provinces, which they
have inhabited for at least 5000 years. But, having to develop some
new views respecting Egypt in another place, we shall take up the
races of the African continent in extenso.
Taking leave, for the present, of continents, let us 'glance for a
moment at Hew Holland. This immense country, extending from
latitude 10° tó 40° south, attests a special creation — its population, its
animals, birds, insects, plants, etc., are entirely unlike those found in
any other part of the world. The men present altogether a very
peculiar type: they are black, hut .without the features, woolly heads,
or other physical characters of Fegroes. Beyond, we have Van Diemen’s
Land, extending to 44° south latitude, which presents a temperate
climate, not unlike that of France; and what is remarkable,
its inhabitants, unlike those of Few Holland, are black, with frizzled
heads, and very similar to the African races.
Hot ;far from Few Holland, under the same parallels, and extending
even farther south, we find Few Zealand; where commences the
beautiful Polynesian race, of light-brown color, smooth black hair,
and almost oval face. This race extends from 50° south, descends to
the equator, then remounts to-the Sandwich Islands, 20° north —
scattered over islands without number — encircling about half the
globe—without presenting any material differences in their color or
forms —in a word, in their zoological characters.
India affords a striking illustration of the fallacy of arguments
drawn from climate. We there meet with people of all shades, from
fair to black, who have been living together from time immemorial.
We have the well-known testimony of Bishop Heber, and others, on
this point; and Desmoulins adds, “ The Bohillas, who are blonds, and
situated south of the Ganges, are surrounded by the Fepauleans with
black skins, the Mahrattas with" yellow skins, and the Bengalees of a
deep brown; and yet the Eohillas inhabit the plain, and the Fepauleans
the mountains.” 20 Here we have either different races inhabiting
the same climate for several thousand years -without change; or
the same race assuming every shade of color. Of this dilemma, the
advocates of unity may choose either horn.
We might thus recite innumerable facts to the same effect, but the
labor would be superfluous.
The different shades of color in races have been regarded, by many
naturalists, as one of their most distinctive characters, and still serve
as the basis of numerous classifications ; but M. Jacquinot thinks too
much importance has been attached to colors, and that they cannot
be relied upon. For example, all the intermediate shades from white
to black are found in those races of oval face, large facial angle,
smooth hair, etc., which Blumenbach has classed under the head
Caucasian. Commence, for example, with the fair Fins and Sclavo-
nians with blond hair, and pass successively through the Celts, Iberians,
Italians, Greeks, Arabs, Egyptians, and Hindoos, till you reach
the inhabitants of Malabar, and you find these last to be as black as
Fegroes.
Among the Mongols, likewise, we encounter various shades. Amid
the Africans there exist all tints, from the pale-yellow Hottentots,
Bushmen, and dusky Caffres, to the coal-black Fegro of the Tropic and
confines of Egypt. In short, the black color is beheld in Caucasians,