Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1899-04-20
TRIBES OF THE EARTH.


their customs, their religion, their cul-
ture and their clothing, there is no
more satisfactory work than THE His
tory of Mankind" by Professor Fried
rick RatzeI. The third volume Of this
has Just been published by Macmillan
& Co. 1t is translated into English
by A. J. Butler.
No other work covers the whole
sarth so fully as this 1t does for man
what good natural history does for
the animal world
At time when all Americans are
beginning to take wider interest in
the affairs of the world, and especial
ly of the east, book of this kind
should be of peculiar value. 1t may
be recalled that the first volume dealt
exclusively with the Malays, who in
habit the Philippine Islands, and with
the various races of the Pacific islands,
with whom we are daily coming in
closer contact. The present volume
concludes the history Of the savage
races of Africa and then deals in turn
with the cultured races Of the old
world, including those Of Africa, Asia
and Europe.
To one who has been accustomed to
regard the so-caled Caucasian race as
the only possible posse8sor Of the
earth it will be extremely profitable
to study the history Of the Mongollan
and allied races as set forth in Rstzel 5
history. These races furnish all Of
the teeming millions who inhabit Chi
ma and Central Asia. The japanese,
the Malays and the inhabitants Of the
Philippines have a strong Mongohan
basis. All Russians have large Mon
golian element in them, and the Kali
mucks of Russia are almost pure Mon
golos. Thus the Monaghan races
stretch from Europe to the Pacific
ocean, covering about twO-thirds of
the land surface of the globe.
The Mongolian breed is also traced
among the Polynesian', Madagascar,
American Indians and Arctic peoples
The marks which distinguish the
Mongol proper are said to be a medium
height of about 5 feet A. inches the
light, buff color of the skin passing in
to deep reddish brown in uncovered
parts; the dark brown eyes; the
coarse, straight, coal black hair on
the head the small amount Of hair
on the rest of the body, especially the
face the short, often bowed legs
the large and usually short head the
broad face, with fiat, projecting cheek
bones, broad and depressed nasal bone;
eyes set obIiqusly, with narrow open
ing; projecting upper jaw and strong
teeth.
Owing to their physical strength
little inferior to that Of Europeans
their slight sensitivene.s to climatic
influences and bodily pain, their acute
senses, the men of this breed rank
among the most capable whom the
earth produces From their move
ments in the open air and their sim
pie but strengthening diet of milk or
koumiss, these wandering h.rdsmen
acquire broad chests and well-devel-
oped muscles.
This Mongolian race is evidently
the largest element in the Chinese.
The Thibetan i. but slight variation
from the pure MongoI stock. The
Chinese is still further removed. In
Northern India the Mongol merges
into the Hindoo, who is Of the same
origin as European. All these OBJ
scure matters of race history are dis
cussed by professor Ratzel
The chapter on Asiatic forms Of be-
lief and systems Of religion is extreme
ly interesting. 1t shows that certain
beliefs and legends are common to all
the races of the world. The Khir-
gi,es OF Central Asia worship ser
pent, Erik, who gives counsel to men
evidently relative Of the reptile
who tempted Eve.
Ancestor worship is one Of the
strongest features of Asiatic religion.
In Japan it is recognized as the nu-
cleus of the old state religion, the Shin
to, aud is said to hold the field, with
no rivals, in the Loochoo Islands.
The cleaning white .epulchers are
tn. first objects seen when approach
ing these islands from the sea. Upon
it principally rests, among all central
Asiatic nations, the power Of the sha-
mans to call up ancestors with the
sound of the drum, with songs and
dances, or, leaving their own bodies