Philological Proofs of the Original Unity and Recent Origin of the Human RaceJohnes, Arthur James
History
Philological Proofs of the Original Unity and Recent Origin of the Human Race
Johnes, Arthur James
Ethnology; Human beings -- Origin; Language and languages; Monogenism and polygenism
According to this writer the varieties of colour, feature, &c. displayed
by different races of Men, are the results partly of climate and other
external agencies, and partly also of a natural tendency to the
manifestation of varieties which may be viewed in the light of a
characteristic quality of the Species. Of these propositions the numerous
and diversified facts collected by Dr. Prichard appear to furnish
perfectly conclusive evidence. Thus he has shown that the characteristic
physiognomy of the Negro is found to occur and disappear by nice
gradations in strict accordance with the differences of climate throughout
the African Continent.
The tendency to variety is very manifest, even from facts under our daily
observation. Individuals are common among European nations, who exhibit
some one or more of the traits of the Negro, as, for example, his woolly
hair, thick lips, &c. Among the Negro races have been born individuals of
a perfectly white colour. Many of these specimens, according to Dr.
Prichard, were not Albinos or diseased persons, but indisputable examples
of his principle.
It is probable that in the infancy of the race, this extraordinary
tendency may have served the important purpose of accelerating those
physiological changes by which the constitution of Man was adapted to the
different climates of the Globe, while, in subsequent ages, climate which
determines the physiology of the majority, may be said thereby to
neutralize the influence of these exceptions. Diversities of complexion,
&c. occur in our own and in neighbouring countries within a very limited
area. Thus the dark hair and features of the ancient Silures which were
ascribed by the Romans to a Spanish origin, are still observable among
their posterity, characteristics of which, I conceive, a satisfactory
explanation may be found in the warm and equable temperature of the
Southern counties of Wales, caused by the peculiar distribution of land
and water.(15) In these countries many productions, both animal and
vegetable, flourish, which are rarely found further North. The Nightingale
is common, and the Vine is cultivated frequently. The contrast between the
temperature of the coasts of South Wales and that of North Wales has not
escaped the attention of the Welsh Bards. Davyth ap Gwilym, a Bard of the
fourteenth Century, in a Poem of great beauty, in which he describes
himself as writing from the land of “wild,” Gwynedh (North Wales), calls
upon the Summer and the Sun to visit with their choicest blessings the
genial region of “Morganwg,” (Glamorganshire,) of which he was a native,
and alludes to its warm climate and its Vineyards, which seem to have been
a conspicuous feature! For some very valuable illustrations of the same
principle, I may refer to the account given by the Rev. Thomas Price in
his Tour in Brittany, published in the Cambrian Quarterly Magazine, of the
varieties of complexion and stature observable in Upper and Lower
Brittany.(16)
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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