A Philological Essay Concerning the Pygmies of the Ancients

by Edward Tyson

E-text prepared by Ted Garvin, Andy Schmitt, and Project Gutenberg

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A PHILOLOGICAL ESSAY CONCERNING THE PYGMIES OF THE ANCIENTS

By

EDWARD TYSON

Now Edited, with an Introduction by Bertram C. A. Windle

TO MY DEAR MOTHER

PREFATORY NOTE

It is only necessary for me to state here, what I have mentioned in the Introduction, that my account of the habits of the Pigmy races of legend and myth makes no pretence of being in any sense a complete or exhaustive account of the literature of this subject. I have contented myself with bringing forward such tales as seemed of value for the purpose of establishing the points upon which I desire to lay emphasis.

I have elsewhere expressed my obligations to M. De Quatrefage's book on Pigmies, obligations which will be at once recognised by those familiar with that monograph. To his observations I have endeavoured to add such other published facts as I have been able to gather in relation to these peoples.