we remind the reader of tlie unfortunate affair of Sarah with Pharaoh,
and again with Abimelech.
We might thus go on, and multiply examples of similar import
from Jewish annals; hut to us it is much more pleasing to draw
the veil of oblivion over the depravity of those primitive days, and to
remember only the noble moral precepts bequeathed us by the kings
and prophets of Judea. These, however, are historical facts, having
important hearings on the subject before us, and must not, therefore,
be passed over in silence. They show clearly that the ancient Israelites
were restrained by no moral force which could keep their genealogies
pure; but, in comparison with eveiy other people, there is
enough to justify us in believing that their pedigrees are to be relied
on for a long series of generations. Those among Jews of the present
day who preserve what is- regarded as the national type, must necessarily
be of pure blood; while those who do not, must be traced up
to foreign alliances.
It will illustrate the indelibility of
the Abrahamic type to present here
a mummied Shemitish head, from
M orton’s collection.75 Being bitu-
minized, the skull cannot be much
older than the time of M oses — say,
fifteenth century b . c. For, inasmuch
as general mummification
ceased about 300 years after Christ,
can it be less than 1500 years old.
From its style and Theban extrac-
Fk>.12. tion, it may be referred to Solomonic
days76 — yet, how perfectly the Hebrew
type is preserved!
Fresh from exhumations in the
father-land of A br ah am , we add a
higher variety of the same type —
Part of a Colossal Head from Kou-
yunjikP Its age is fixed between
the reign of S e n n a c h e r ib and the
fall of' Fineveh, about the seventh
century b . c. And still, after 2500
years, so indelible is the type, every
resident of Mobile will recognize,
in this Chaldsean effigy, the facsimile
portrait of one of their city’s
most prominent citizens, who is
honored alike by the affection of his co-religionists, and the confidence
of the community which has just elevated him to a seat in the
Hational Councils.
All written descriptions of early times, relative to the Jewish
race, concur in establishing the permanence of their type. We are
informed, by, modern travellers, that the same features are common
in Mesopotamia, their original seat, and also scattered through Persia,
AfVrLtmW.a.n, &c.; the direction in which, we are taught by the annals
of modern times,'some descendants of the ten tribes were dispersed,
long after the Assyrian captivity in the eighth century b . c. In short,
the Jewish features meet one in almost every country under the sun;
but.it is worthy of special remark, that Hebrew lineaments are found
in no region whither history cannot track them, and rarely where their
possessors do not acknowledge Jewish origin. F or will the fact be
questioned, we presume, that well-marked Israelitish features are
never beheld out of that race; although it has, as we shall show,
been contended that Jews in certain climates have not only lost their
own type, but have become transformed into other races!
The number of Jews now existing in the world, (of those that are
regarded as descendants in a direct fine from, and maintaining the
same laws with, their forefathers, who, above 3000 years ago, retreated
from Egypt under the guidance of the lawgiver, Moses,) is estimated
by Weimer, Wolff, Milman,78 and others, variously, from three to
five millions. In all climates and countries, they are recognized as
the same race. Weimer, whose statistics are lowest, gives the following
: —
“ Afbica.— They are scattered along the 'whole coast, from Morocco to Egypt, besides
being found in many other parts. Morocco and Fez, 300,000; Tunis, 130,000 ; Algiers,
30,000; Gabes or Habesh, 20,000; Tripoli, 12,000; &c. Total, 504,000.
“ A s ia . — In Mesopotamia and Assyria. The ancient seats of the Babylonian Jews are
still occupied by 5,270 families, exclusive of those of Bagdad and Bassora. Asiatic Turkey,
330,000; Arabia, 200,000; Hindostan, 100,000; China, 60,000; Turkistan, 40,000; Province
of Iran, 35,000; &c. Total, 738,000.
“ Eubope. — Russia and Poland, 608,000; European Turkey, 321,000; Germany,
138,000; Prussia, 134,000; Netherlands, 80,000; France, 60,000; Italy, 36,000; Great
Britain, 12,000; &c. Total in Europe, 1,918,053.”
In A merica, Milman averages them at 6000 only; but this was
certainly very far below the mark, even when his book was published,
and they have since been increasing, with immense rapidity. We
should think that an estimate of 100,000, for Forth and South
America, would not be an exaggeration.
This sketch suffices to show how the Judaic race has become scattered
throughout the regions of the earth; many families being domiciliated,
ever since the Christian era, in climates the most opposite:
and, yet, in obedience to an organic law of animal life, they have pre