The races of man, and their geographical distribution

Front matter

Races of

and their hr

Distribution

Preface To The First Edition

Inclination without some form of external pressure is insufficient to induce an author to publish a handbook, for though complete¬ ness is essential, the work is little attractive. Moreover, in such a subject as ethnology the author finds himself obliged to enter into matters requiring special study. He can no longer bring forward his own thoughts, but has only to repeat the dicta of the recognized authorities, and he never loses the oppressive sensation of gathering roses in the garden of another. It would never have occurred to the present author to reconstruct a doctrinal system of ethnology, had he not in the beginning of 1869 been requested by the then War Minister, General A. von Roon, to edit a fourth and revised edition of his “ Ethnology as an Introduction to Political Geography” (Volkerkunde als Propadeutik der politischen Geographic). The wish of a man whose name is closely con¬ nected with the creation of our military system, became a duty to a German on whom the newly acquired strength of his nation has imposed obligations of gratitude towards its great originator and promoter. After a short correspondence it was agreed that the new work was to be described on the title-page as the joint pro¬ duction of Herr von Roon and the present author, and that it should be previously submitted to the former for approbation.

vi • Preface to the First Edition.

Last autumn, however, when after nearly five years a portion of the proof was ready, it appeared that, owing to the shattered state of his health, His Excellency Field-marshal Count Roon was for the time unable to examine the contents of the “ Ethnology,” and that although he intended to do so when convalescent, yet if such delay should be prejudicial to the author and the publisher, he urged an immediate publication of the work, but that in this case any mention of his name on the title-page must be omitted. Any longer delay was indeed undesirable, for the rapidity with which writings grow old, owing to the present activity of science, more especially in the province of ethnology, was painfully im¬ pressed upon the author while his work was in the press, by the appearance of several new investigations, of which he was unable to make use. Thus in the early chapters the Mohammedan monarchy at Talifu was described as extant and prosperous, whereas, according to the latest intelligence, the Chinese destroyed it in 1872.

The original object of the undertaking, namely, to urge anew the scientific claims of A. von Roon’s “ Volkerkunde als Propadeutik der politischen Geographie,” thus came to naught, much to the regret of the author.

OSCAR PESCHEL.

Leifisic, Jan. 10, 1874.

Preface To The Second Edition

The issue of a Second Edition has been delayed for some time by the author that he might avail himself of the opportunity completely to rearrange his work. But owing to considerations of health this intention must be postponed to a future time. Such addi¬ tional material as has been gathered, as well as all elucidations derived from critical discussions on ethnology in the press of Germany and of other countries, and in private correspondence, have been placed in the list of “Addenda and Corrections” before the list of “Contents.”* Although at present no alteration of the systematic groups has been adopted, it must be remembered that new arguments have lately been urged against the com¬ bination of the Indo-European, Semitic, and Hamite nations into a Mediterranean race. When, for instance, Professor R. Hart¬ mann recognized a remarkable correspondence between the skulls of the Shillook negroes and the heads of the old Egyptians and of their descendants, the Fellaheen (Schweinfurth, The Heart of Africa, vol. i. p. 96), such a fact could not fail to produce a deep impression. On the other hand, in the absence of measure-

These have been inserted in the text of the English edition.

viii Preface to the Second Edition.

ments and distinct physical descriptions of many members of these groups, a separation could not as yet be carried into effect : nor is it indeed impossible that proof may yet be obtained of the common origin. In the three great groups of languages it is perhaps unadvisable hastily to replace an old and questionable arrangement by one which, though new, is also questionable.

OSCAR PESCHEL.

Leipzic , October, 1874.