The Yazoo Democrat., 1854-04-19

lures, delivered at Lowell, Massachu-
sets;
We next come to the geographical
distribution Of the races Of man; and
here we must leave out of the consid-
eration all questions as to the unity of
the races. Professor Agassiz 10 con
Scious that his views on some points
are not generally received, and he full
! ly respects the motives which make
the views of others almost sacred to
them: He hopes that his views will
be received III the same spirit as he re-
presents them-Yiz., in the effort to ar
rive at truth.
We will first study the limits Of the
range of each race on the different con-
tinents, and must consequently elimi-
pate every element depending upon
migration, as the present American ra-
ceS. We are to consider the primitive
location of the races--that is, the dis
tribution of man as recognised by the
earliest traditions The question isl
where the races were originally placed
rather than what are the modern chan
ges in their distribution.
The first race to be considered is one
peculiar to the Arctic REGIONS race
differing much from any inhahtilg the
temperate zone, and still more hom
those of the tropics. This race com
priSeS the Esquimaux Of this continent
the Laplanders of Europe and the Sa-
moydes of Asia. They are all chdrac-
terized by broad face, short in its
vertical diameter, low forehead, and
great length of body when compared
with the shortness of the legs. For
more minute descriptions, the works
of Pickering and Pritchard must be
consulted The distribution Of these
races corresponds very nearly to the
geological regions of the north.
The races Of temperate zones are
three. The Mongolians in ASIA the
whites in Europe, and the aborigineS in
America; and that it is remarkable, ,also,
that these races occupy the same terri
tories as the faunas. In Asia has been
described the terrestrial japanese fauna,
the insular Japanese fauna, the Chinese
fauna, and the fauna of the Caspian re-
gions, intermediate to that of Europe
and Asia. Inhabiting precisely the same
countries are the Japanese, Chinese and
Turks.
The indians of North America are a
distinct race, ION this point Professor
Agassiz disagreeS with DR.. Pickering,)
differing from the races of the Old
! E.World, as the inferior animals of North
America differ i'll species from those ol
the Old World. 1t is only within few
years that the ananlilS of North Amer
lea have been considered not TO beiden
tical with those of Europe. The abo
: riginal Indian race is identical, from the
Arctic regions to Terre del Fuego, the
/ only difference being one of tribes, no
+ of races. These Tribes are divided int
e an infinite number of small tribes
i fact perfectly in accordance with th'
# distribution of the inferior animals up
7 ! on this continent.
Z We have seen that great mountain
chain, extending from the Canadas t.
Patagonia, connects North and Soutl
: America, and produces certain uni
formity in their taunas; that their fau
of mas are snbGivided into those of tn
?. Panpas, the Antilles the Andes, tn
southern States, the middle States, tn
Canadas, the table lands west Of tn
States, and those of Oregon and Cal
4 fornia. In the same manner the abe
Of riginies are divided into a large nun
e Der of small tribes, which are circum
i. scribes within narrow limits. The
3 form no great nations, as do the Chin
!. ese, Tartars, and japanese Of the east.
as The Caucasian race widely dlstribI
~ ted into many nations. Those inhabi
!. ing the eastern part of Africa, the nortl
= ern part of Arabia, Messopotamia, ,Asi
Minor, &c, all constitute different nj
so tions, with different languages. III
ms Teutonic branch, including the Germa
Dutch. English. Danish, &c, and I'll