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
It has been shown in another part of this work that the language of the
Mandans does not prove them to be connected with the Welsh, and that their
dialect is of the same character as that of other Indian tribes. Further,
did space allow, I might produce some evidence that the Mandans are allied
in blood to their hereditary foes, the fierce and warlike Sioux! The
phenomena noticed by Mr. Catlin must be explained therefore by the aid of
different principles than those to which he has referred.(20)
I conceive then that these various peculiarities of colour, personal
appearance, and of manners and social habits, which he noticed amongst the
Mandans, may all be viewed as effects of one simple cause, viz. their
“judiciously selected location” in “a permanent village,” involving
protection from exposure to the seasons on the one hand, and the
abandonment of nomade habits on the other. To the former, the changes of
complexion—to the latter, the social advances—of the Mandan Tribe may be
ascribed!
There are numerous other data in Mr. Catlin’s work which seem to afford
illustrations of the mutability of Human Physiology. The Indians who live
among the Whites he describes as “Pale” Red. May not the change implied in
this expression be referred to an abandonment of their original life of
activity and exposure on the wild Prairie, quite as much as to misfortune
or a mixture of European blood? The variety of Physiognomy among the
different tribes, as shown by his admirable portraits of Chiefs, &c., is
very extraordinary. Some of these countenances are ugly and
unprepossessing; but in others the finest European features occur! The
traits exhibited by these portraits are contrary to the inference which
Humboldt’s description might suggest, viz., that all the N. A. Indian
Tribes resemble the Mongol Race in features as well as in the colour of
their skin and the absence of beard.
The Indian shows no want of acuteness in detecting the characteristic
vices, whether real or imaginary, of the civilized world.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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