Gallinas. Sudanese Negroes of Sierra Leone.
Garamantes. An ancient Hamitic race inhabiting the neighbourhood of Tripoli in Roman times.
Garhwalis. Tibetan natives of Garhwal, on the border of Tibet.
Gascons. Natives of Gascony, of Basque descent, modified by Frank and French blood. They are notorious for their lively imagination and boasting “Gasconades.”
Gauchos. A mixed race of Spanish and Indian descent, admirable horsemen, who are the chief herdsmen of Uruguay and the Argentine Republic. See [PUELCHES].
Gauls. In Cæsar’s time the Gauls occupied the central part, and formed the chief race, of modern France, which, after them, was called Gaul. They probably belonged to the Brythonic division of the Celtic stock, being closely allied to the ancient Britons, as well as to the modern Welsh and Bretons, who respectively represent the remnants of the primitive Celtic population of England and France. It is possible that there was a still earlier Celtic element in France, corresponding to the Goidelic division of the Celtic stock. Mingled with the Celtic element in the Gauls were traces of the earlier [Iberian] and [Ligurian aborigines] (q.v.). The Gauls were blue-eyed, fair-haired and long-headed, in distinction to the older dark-eyed, black-haired, round-headed type, which is more commonly known as Celtic, but is probably characteristic of an older race. Under Roman rule the Gauls acquired a considerable degree of civilisation. They were dispossessed in the decline of the empire by [Franks], [Burgundians] and [Visigoths] (q.v.), but became in part ancestors of the modern French.
Georgians. The chief race of the Southern Caucasus, a fine athletic race of pure Caucasic type, noted for the personal beauty of its individuals. The Georgians were formerly fierce and warlike, but under Russian rule have become industrious in the arts of peace. They are noted for a passionate love of music. They first appear in history in the time of Alexander the Great, when they were already settled in their mountains. The Georgian kingdom had an independent existence for about seven centuries, but suffered much from Mongolian and especially Turkish invasions. Georgia and Circassia furnished the majority of white slaves for Turkish harems. In 1801 Georgia was annexed to Russia. Other important South Caucasian races are the Imerians and the Mingrelians, who closely resemble the Georgians in physical characteristics, but have displayed less aptitude for civilisation.
Gepidæ. See [GOTHS].
Getæ. An ancient race of [Thracian] (q.v.) descent, who settled in Wallachia in the fourth century B.C. They were warlike and turbulent, but were conquered by Trajan and incorporated in the Roman Empire. In later centuries they appear to have been fused with the [Goths] (q.v.).
Germans. The Germans first appear in history as a multitude of independent and warlike tribes living amongst the dense forests which stretched in Roman times from the Rhine to the Vistula. They belonged to the Teutonic stock of the Aryan family. They were a tall and vigorous race, with long, fair hair and fierce blue eyes, who delighted in war and the chase. Their democratic social organisation has greatly influenced all Teutonic history; their love of liberty was a passion. At an early period they were divided into High and Low Germans, differing in type, according as they inhabited the central and southern portions of modern Germany or the low-lying lands towards the North Sea and the Baltic. The chief races of the former were the Goths, Franks, Burgundians, Swiss, Swabians, Austrians; of the latter, Saxons, Angles, Jutes, Frisians, Flemings, Batavi—from whom the modern English and Dutch are descended, whilst the High Germans represent the modern Germans. These are a very enterprising, thorough, and industrious race, alike in war and peace, and have thus given birth to one of the greatest Powers of the modern world.