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Mr. Isenberg, whom I saw at Bombay, thought that "under the same advantages, Abyssinia might rise to an equality with a European nation. In times of peace there is tolerable security for person and property, and the present condition of Abyssinia is not very unlike that of a European nation when distracted with civil war."

The Abyssinian is the third physical race, which will enter into the question of the primitive Egyptians. The profile of the young person above-mentioned corresponded well with that of the monumental Egyptian; and his shaven head, large projecting ears, and grave expression of countenance, heightened the resemblance. It seems, however, that the true Abyssinian, (as first pointed out to me by Mr. Gliddon,) has been separately and distinctly figured on the Egyptian monuments, in the two men leading a camelopard in the tribute-procession to Thouthmosis III.; and this opinion was confirmed by an examination of the original painting at Thebes.

CHAPTER XIII.

THE WHITE OR ARABIAN RACE.

EUROPEANS and European colonists are comparatively uniform in their complexion and personal appearance, and they can hardly conceal their origin by dress, even amid the population of Northern Africa and Northwestern Asia. The inhabitants of the two last-named countries present among themselves more diversity, although at the same time there is rarely any difficulty in recognising the physical race.

The White race then, as it exists in northern climates, may be characterised by its superiority in lightness of complexion, in thinness of lip, in prominence of nose, and in length and copiousness of beard. No one of these tests is of itself sufficient to distinguish the race, for Abyssinians, in some instances, rival it in prominence of nose; Telingans, or even Ethiopians, in thinness of lip; many Papuans have as copious a beard; and I have myself seen the florid complexion among Mongolians of high northern latitudes. So

far, however, as my observation has extended, flaxen hair, red hair, and blue eyes, (albinoes being excepted,) are found only in the White race.

The hottest portion of the globe appears to be about seventeen degrees in width, counting from latitude 27° North, and extends from the Atlantic Ocean to the Ganges. One third, perhaps, of this immense tract is inhabited by the White race, although often under a physical aspect that would not readily be acknowledged by Europeans. The complexion, always dark, is in frequent instances sufficiently so to conceal a flush; indeed the Malay-brown complexion seems rather to predominate; and I have seen Arabs of a deeper hue who yet were apparently of unmixed descent: moreover, a considerable proportion of the inhabitants of Southern Arabia are nearly or quite beardless. In short, the White race is here protean or polymorphous, and exhibits a diversity in feature and complexion that I have not found in the other races. The prominence of profile is, however, for the most part permanent; and I further remarked that the various series of expressions of countenance, which pertain respectively to the other races, appeared to be absent. It should be observed, however, that actual mixtures of race have been more frequent and more complicated in the southern Arab countries, and have been taking place there for a longer period, than in the other parts of the globe.

While acknowledging that we are only beginning to be acquainted with the countries and people of the East, I have been impressed with one view of the circumstances, in correspondence apparently with an ancient condition of the human family. In the course of my recent tour, I was continually hearing from the lips of Orientals the words of different ancient and modern European languages, until at last the whole class of these languages seemed as if merely recomposed from fragments of Arabic and Sanscrit. Of fragments indeed, which have been disguised more or less by interchanges during some thousands of years; and if any European words can be traced to a different source, they at least remain to be pointed out.

The same state of things appears to exist in the Malay class of languages, and instances have been discovered of English words which can be traced through the Sanscrit to

the remotest islands of the Pacific. The rule may, perhaps, be further extended to the languages of the African continent; but whether applicable in any degree to the Chinese, or to the aboriginal American languages, I am uninformed.

At the present day the White race may be conveniently disposed in two divisions, as well geographical, as differing in institutions and habits of life: the Frank or European, and the Oriental. The extraordinary intensity of heat, in some of the countries inhabited by the White race, may help to explain a portion of these differences.

One of the above divisions may in some measure be said to rule the land as the other rules the sea; for the extent of the caravan routes is almost an equivalent to the universal maritime intercourse now attained by Europeans.

EUROPEAN COLONISTS.

At the present day, Europeans and their descendants, are to be found in most parts of the globe that are accessible by sea; the Eastern coast of Asia, together with New Guinea and the neighbouring islands, forming the only considerable exceptions. This modern extension of the White race, has not been represented on the accompanying map; but it should be observed, that the intrusion on other races, has been much more feeble than is commonly supposed, and that in no other part of the world, has so great a change taken place as in North America.

Although separate notices seem hardly to be required, I have concluded to insert the following; from notes taken chiefly during the progress of the Exploring Expedition.

Madeira, having been discovered in modern times, and having been found uninhabited, must be regarded as a colony; although in the character of its population, it seems rather to form a part of Europe. A week spent at this island, chiefly in a journey with horses, of nearly a hundred miles, afforded me a fair opportunity of seeing the inhabitants. According to an idea commonly entertained in regard to the Spanish and Portuguese, I had anticipated universal swarthiness, with the hair and eyes invariably black; but I found as much variety in complexion and feature as at home, and many instances even of flaxen hair.

The singularly rugged character of the surface (the roads intersecting deep mountain ravines and leading along the brink of frightful precipices), tends greatly to impede intercourse. At San Vincente, on the northern coast, we were told that but three travellers had visited the place during the preceding four months: and one of the Catholic Fathers residing there, had grown grey in that single ravine, which he had never once left since his first arrival.

The peasantry of Madeira appeared to be laborious, civil, and sober; but the idea of political rights, in all probability, seldom enters their heads; it may be doubted, whether the news of the great world around, ever reaches them. In secluded situations we sometimes met with young persons in a state of nudity, and on one occasion, with several who were nearly full-grown. The strange tone of voice everywhere heard, was explained by Mr. Drayton; for it appeared that "the peasantry in their conversation and music, habitually use the minor key."

During the few hours spent on shore at the Cape Verd Islands, I saw only three or four Whites; who were residing in the town of Porto Praya. They were sallow and languid; having evidently suffered in their health, from the powerful influence of the sun.

At Rio Janeiro I did not find the like marks of a deteriorating influence in the climate; and the popular prejudice against the general healthiness of the Tropics, was soon perceived to be without foundation. In the city, artisans direct from Europe, were seen working steadily at their various vocations; some of which, such as that of the blacksmith, were peculiarly oppressive.

In the course of an excursion beyond the Organ Mountains, I had an opportunity of witnessing some of the hardships of a life in Interior Brazil. I had previously imagined with many in the North, that the bane of tropical climates, consisted in the absence of a stimulus to industry; and that the soil poured forth, almost spontaneously, a profusion of dainties in addition to the necessaries of life; I was, therefore, unprepared to find the stigma of luxury reflected back upon my own countrymen, even upon those undergoing the reputed privations of our frontiers. Among other peculiarities in manners, derived to all appearance from the

parent country, the seclusion of the women may be mentioned; for their existence in certain families, appeared to be known chiefly through report.

During our short stay at the mouth of the Rio Negro, in North Patagonia, I did not come in contact with many of the inhabitants. One of the pilots was a Frenchman, and the other an Englishman, and I met with three individuals from the United States.

The remainder, about twenty in number, were "guachos," or mounted herdsmen; who (with the exception of some Negroes) were of Spanish descent, and who were rendered conspicuous in the distance by the scarlet and white of their fantastic dress. It has been said that the guachos, "owing to their being perpetually on horseback, appear personally to disadvantage when dismounted;" I did not remark this, but I saw some well-formed men, who, moreover, did not appear to be deficient in either intelligence or general information. I observed, however, an evident disinclination to walking; and it must be a rare circumstance in this region, to meet a man on foot. The country has such a desert aspect, that it is a matter of astonishment how the great numbers of horses and bullocks are enabled to procure subsistence.

We here began to perceive an influence in the surface of a country, in modifying the habits of its population. In an open accessible region, men in the course of their ordinary pursuits, become accustomed to rove widely, tenfold more than in agricultural districts, or even a hundred fold more, than where hemmed in by close woods.

Northern Chili, although less barren in aspect than the country on the Rio Negro, supports comparatively fewer cattle; but being broken and mountainous, irrigation, for agricultural purposes, is sometimes available. The climate seems extremely healthy, as is shown, among other circumstances, by the robust forms of the women of the lower orders. The hospitality and obliging disposition of the country people, formed a strong contrast to the habits of the Brazilians; and extended even to annoyance on our botanical excursions by the offer of horses.

At a ball, given in honour of a victory, I had occasion to admire the good taste shown in the arrangements, and the dancing; an accomplishment in which the Spanish ladies

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