It is to this practical consideration alone that we appeal,
should criticism allege that any of the mechanical part of this
work might have heen more skilfully executed. Had the price
been higher, the performance would assuredly have been
superior
Injustice to the labors of the Authors and the Contributors,
we will state, that no monetary compensation is equal to the
pains bestowed by each upon his part; and several of the
above have kindly furnished their quota without the remotest
pecuniary object; at the same time, let it be noted, that the
accomplished lady to whose single pencil four-fifths of the
entire series of illustrations herein contained are due, spontaneously
volunteered, and for two years has employed it, in
behalf of her husband’s literary interests.
Aside, also, from the communications made by Professors
J o s e p h L e id y and L. A g a s s i z , as well as by L i e u t . H a b e r s
h am , U. S. N., the reader will find in this volume several
items of novelty,— altogether uncontemplated by us when
the first Prospectus was issued last autumn.
Among these maybe mentioned the ineditedEskimo-cranium
derived from the late D r . K a n e ’s first Arctic Expedition, and
the equally inedited TchuJctchi-cranium and portrait presented
by Mr. E. M. K e r n , — artist in the recent North Pacific Expedition
of the “ Vincennes,” under Captain Rodgers, U. S. N.
We hope, therefore, that every Subscriber will feel satisfied
that we have fully redeemed our engagements in the premises.
J. B. L ip p in c o t t & Co.,
Publishers.
P E E F A T O B Y B EMA B K S .
BY G E O . R . G L ID D O N .
T h e title of the present volume, — “ Indigenous Races of the
Earth,” as well as that of our former work, — “ Types of Mankind,”
are due to my colleague.
D r . N o t t possesses, beyond most men, the faculty of epitomizing
the gist of an argument in the fewest words. It is on that account,
and more especially for the disappointment readers may feel upon
finding my name substituted for my colleague’s, in this part of our
joint book, that its opening page must contain an expression of my
regret at the only untoward event which, from first to last, has been
encountered in the literary undertaking now brought favorably to
an end.
Being unavoidable, however, such issue—unforeseen but a few
days ago—-requires some brief explanation.
On my return from Europe last May, M. A l f r e d M a u r y ’s manuscript
for Chapter I. was the only, part of this book in a state of completion.
M r . F r a n c i s P u l s z k y ’s , for Chapter II., arrived in consecutive
portions by the mails from London; D r . J. A i t k e n M e i g s ’s , for
Chapter in ., and mine for Chapters V. and VI., were written here,
during the past summer and autumn; while D r . N o t t , in the same
interval, prepared his for Chapter IV. at Mobile.
It having been deemed inexpedient to incur the risks of loss of
these manuscripts by sending them hence to Mobile, D r . N o t t , except
through private correspondence and my oral report to him “ chez
lui” last November, was necessarily unacquainted with theii several
tenor: but, when receiving from his hands the manuscript for Chap-
(Vii)