"No ancient author has so clearly stated the two forms of reasoning by which we still explain in our days the differences of color and figure among neighboring nations as Tacitus. He makes a just distinction between the influence of climate and hereditary dispositions, and, like a philosopher persuaded of our profound ignorance of the origin of things, leaves the question undecided."--Humboldt's _Personal Narrative_.] [Footnote 216: See Smith on _The Variety of Complexion of the Human Species_.] [Footnote 217: Mr. Lawrence's precise definition is "an obscure orange or rusty-iron color, not unlike the bark of the cinnamon-tree." Among the early discoverers, Vespucius applies to them the epithet "rougeatre." Verazzano says, "sono di color berrettini e non molto dalli Saracini differenti."] [Footnote 218: Cook's Narrative calls their color an _effete_ white, like that of the southern nations of Europe. Meares expressly says that some of the females, when cleaned, were found to have the fair complexions of Europe. Somewhat further north, at Cloak Bay, in lat. 54 deg. 10', Humboldt remarks, that "in the midst of copper-colored Indians, with small, long eyes, there is a tribe with large eyes, European features, and a skin less dark than that of our peasantry."--_New Spain_, vol. i., p. 145. Humboldt considers this as the strongest argument of an original diversity of race which has remained unaffected by climate.] [Footnote 219: See Appendix. No. XLV. (see Vol II)] [Footnote 220: Cochrane's _Pedestrian Journey_.] [Footnote 221: Prescott remarks, that the progress made by the Mexicans in astronomy, and especially the fact of their having a general board for education and the fine arts, proves more in favor of their advancement than the noble architectural monuments which they and their kindred tribes erected. "Architecture," he observes, "is a sensual gratification, and addresses itself to the eye; it is the form in which the resources of a semi-civilized people are most likely to be lavished."--_Conquest of Mexico_, vol. i., p. 155; Lyell's _America_, vol. i., p. 115.]