Polynesian. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu], Hawaii) 1844-1864, 1856-08-16

Pth Which unes all organized beings into great ar-
ganlc conception whence it follows that what arc called
human races, down to their specialization as nations
are distinct primordia forms Of the type of man The
consequences Of tie first alternative which is contrary
10 all the modern results Of science inevitably into
the Lamarkian development theory, so well known in
this country through the work entitled 'Vestigcs OF
Creation though Its premises generally adopted by
those who would shrink fsCm the conclusions 10 hch
they necessarily lead
/ We will now. however, quote iiom another work
/ OF DIR. MortOns passage or two in WHICH climate
Is estimated in the two chief spheres of Its suppos
ed operatIOn-the color of the skin, and the color
and texture of the hair. In both of these it will
be ut once apparent that its effects are restricted
within the smallest limits, so to render il wholly
inadequate to the production of the dIverstes OBJ
served IN different races of men.
! at sa common opinion that climate alone is capable
oil producing all those diverstes of complexion
markable IN the human races very few facts may
suffice to show that such cannot be the case Thus tho
Negroes of Van Dieman's Land who among the
blacklist people the earth live in a climate cold
that OF Iceand' while the Indo-Chinese nations, who
live IN tropical Asia of brown and olive complex
ion. It is remarked by Humboldt that the American
tribe of the Equnoxia Region have darker skin than
the mOuntaineers of the Temperate Zone So also the
Puelches of the Magellanic plains beyond the fy-hh
degree of South latitude, absolutely darker than
Ablpones, TOBIAS, and other tribes, who many de-
grees nearer the equator Again, the Charruas, who
nhab south of the Rio de Ia Plata, almost black,
whilst the GuaycaS, under the line among the fair
est OF the American tribes Finally, not to multiply
examples, those nations Of the Caucasian which
have become inhabitants of the Torrd Zone in both
hemspheres although their descendants have been for
centuries, and in Africa for many centuries, exposed to
the most active influences of climate have never in a
solitary instance, exhibited the transformation from
Caucasian TO Negro complexion. They become dark
er 1t is true but there is point at which the change
IS arrested Climate mOdfes the human complexion,
but is far from being the cause of it.
! hp of t,n hair
nations In the Caucasian il is for the most part
long SOFT and curling, and of many shades Of color
and 1t retains these characters in that race in defiance
Of climate and locality In the MongoHan Indian and
Malay, the hair IS almost invariably long, Link, and
black, equally in the Torrid and the Frigd Zones In
the true Negro, the contrary, the hair has all the
appearance OF wool, although its ultimate texture -
revealed by the microscope, appears to be the
in the other That climate the cause of this
condition of the hair may be inferred from many facts.
among which shall be content to mention three. ].
Tie Tasmanan negroes Of Van Dicmen's land are as
woody headed any existing people, and yet they in
habit cold climate; while the MalIys, who inhabit un
der the equator in the same lo3gtudes have remarkably
straight hair. , The Continent Of America produces
every known temperatures and yet among her multitu
dlnous savage tribes, not has woody crspy
hair. Ii is always long and straight j. If there
any latent power III the InertrOpcaI climate OF this
continent render the hair long and black in the
Indian ought by this time to have evidence
OF II III the negroes who with their ancestors and de-
SceldlhtS inhabited St. domingo three centu
rcs but the contrary, the hair Of these people is
ntracaby wool as it is among the coguate tribes in
the heart of Africa
The law by which animals are adapted TO the
relations in which they are placed, and by which
the wisdom and goodness of the Creator are so
prominently displayed, is universal and absolute.
II belongs to all regions, all creatures, and every
race and scientific inquiries prove that il has pre-
vailed unexceptionaIly over all the shoreess
ocean Of time represented by past geological Pc
RODS Whilst the EsquImauX IS fitted 10 wander
in safety amid the deSoIalon of the arctic regions
frequently with his bare head exposed to every
blast, and to supply all the wants ne feels, so that
this region of frost and storm becomes to him q
dear home, a afalherland, which no brbc can induce
him to exchange for the gladcs of happy England,
eventhe fragrant plains of Araby the bessed;"
these countries of eternal ice would present innu-
merable physical impossibilities for the residence
of any of the races possessed of the germs Of the
highest civilization. the Egyptians, Greeks, Ro-
mans, or English with their arts and monuments,
their commerce, their ships and engineering work.,
their science, literature AMI bcoks, thn; human
ingenuity could ever have overcome.
u = true we cannot refer with the SINE anipli-
luds to the delinea,ons Of tile Israeltish race on
monuments old those OF the ancient Egyp-
tanS Still, IN these sculptures themselves Bel
zonl, Morton, ard other authorities, concluded
with every appearance OF probability, the Jews
qulvocaly. In the ASSyrIan bas-rclIefs discover
cd at kouyunlik captlves are represented of mark
ed Jewish linpamenis series of slabs bearing
cureifom inscriptions, that have been interpret
ed to recount the taking oi the city of Lachish by
- ScnaCherIb, the mighty king In Mott and
Gddon's volume there Is a long and instructive
chqpier. written 10y the former gentleman, who had
already made It the subject Of a special publica-
ton devoted to the " Physical History of the
Jews" Thi; chaTtG. contains two communications
from Jewish authors, which may be taken as the
summary of the whole. The first is from Mr..
Isaac Lesser. the editor ct the 'OccIde1t," r
PbiIadelphien publication, ard INC other from q
gentleman we'll known IN this country for the ex-
tent OF his Hebrew learning, and his excellent
qualities. the Rev. NJ. j. Raphall. Mr.. Lesser
observes
In respect to the true Jewish plexion it il fair;
which s proved by the variety Of the people haye
ON Persia RnSsia Palc.tne, SNd Africa. not to jHss-
ton ti,9ss u E.'r5Ts asH AnGlca, the latter Of whom
are Identical with the Europeans, ike all other white
ngs;,ats of this continent. All the Jews that ever
i-41cl are identicai IN features
DR.. Raphalrs letter contains so many particu-
lars Of interest from such high authority, that
.se insert it entire.
s.TEe black Jews Of Naabar not descendants Of
N rahlm Isaac and Jacob, but Of Hindu origin.
At Cochin there two distinct communities Of Jews;
one white vas originally settled at CranglnOr, bft
when the Poruguese became too powerful that coast
"A D. 1900 to 1j90) removed to Cochin. These Jews
have been res dent in India considerably above 1000
years but still they retain their Jewish cast Of features
and, though of a dark complexion, are not black
They inte-marTy with the second community, M
so Jews but black, of Hindu origin, and, according to
tradition, originally bonlnen, but converted and man
united some 300 years ago. Though Of the same re-
lgon the two races are and keep distinct In the IN
terror Of Africa many negroes are found who profess
to be Jews practise circumcsgrs, and keep the Sab
I,tb Those are held to be the descendants Of slaves