The plurality of the human race / by Georges Pouchet ; translated and ed. (from the 2nd ed.) by Hugh J.C. Beavan.

  • Georges Pouchet
Date:
1864
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Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The plurality of the human race / by Georges Pouchet ; translated and ed. (from the 2nd ed.) by Hugh J.C. Beavan. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    163/188 (page 145)
    ture capable of retaining the language within its limits, and of preserving it from all separation. Hence it results that anthropology must take its most pre- cious authorities from the study of languages, in the language of the islands, for instance, and in the idioms spoken at the extremity of the continents: thus surrounded by the sea, in relation by its less extent with the others, these idioms will be preserved even more intact. We shall find here the real ex- pression of the most ancient state of things which we can directly recognise by philology. The click language, so pecu- liar to one single race,* exists only in the most southern part of Africa. They still speak the ancient Palif in the south of Asia and at Ceylon. The most ancient language of Europe, so far as we know, namely the Celtic, still remains in Britanny and in Wales. From all which has gone before, we may then conclude that in order to establish a rational classification of human species, the first characteristics to be considered will be the external aspect, and perhaps the moral cliaracteristics; the rest will come in the second rank : at first, language, then deep anatomical varieties which do not strike us at the first glance, then physio- logical and pathological varieties, etc. Such is, we think, the only certain basis upon which anthropology can rest—the true distinctions between human species. We do not even yet know exactly their number, and naturalists do not at all agree on this subject; the work is to be done over again, by follow- ing a new route. ^ Without troubling ourselves with enquiring into the whole system of the genus homo, we must at first examine these well- characterised centres of population which are entirely distinct as regards aspect and physiognomy. We must mark these centres with care, paying attention to all the physical, moral, and philological varieties which we are able to notice. M. Flourens has given some excellent principles for the study of animal species; he wishes simply to apply them to the study of human * See above, p. 78. t [Pali, the ordinary language of daily life in Hindoostan at the time when Sanscrit was used in elevated literature alone.—Editor.]