Capacity of the anterior chamber,
Capacity of the posterior chamber, .
Capacity of the coronal region,
Facial angle, . . . . .
42.5 cubic inches.
52.25 cubic inches.
15.6 cubic inches.
72 degrees.
T H E CH E R O K E E S .
The Cherokees, says Bartram, are even taller and more robust than the
Muskogees, and by far the largest race of men he had seen. Their complexion is
brighter than that of the succeeding tribes, and somewhat of an olive cast, while
some of their young women are nearly as fair as Europeans.
The same traveller, who was much among the Cherokees towards the close
of .the last century, describes,them as grave and circumspect in their deportment,
and slow and reserved in conversation; tenacious of their rights, and impatient of
aggression, yet more humane than most of their Indian neighbors. Mr. Bartram
speaks of them as a warlike nation, “ ready always to sacrifice every pleasure and
gratification, even their blood, and life itself, to defend their territory and maintain
their rights.”* This last statement, however, is rather at variance with history,
for the Cherokees have been remarked for their pacific disposition, and their
preference of agriculture to war. Mr. Bartram himself mentions the fact of their
doing homage to the Creeks in open council; and he adds that this vassalage was
arrogantly imposed and passively submitted to.f
It is also certain that some of the southern tribes, and especially the
Congarees, Yamassees and Esaws, made incursions into the Cherokee country for
the mere purpose of making prisoners, whom they subsequently sold as slaves- in
Charleston, South Carolina; nor was this practice abolished until the year 16954
It is obvious from the preceding facts that the arts of peace are more
congenial to the Cherokees than those of war. They are not only more docile,
but far more intelligent and capable of instruction, than the surrounding tribes;
and in proof of this we need but instance the syllabic Cherokee alphabet, which
* Trav. in Florida, &c., p. 485.
% Gallatin, in Archæolog. Amer. II, p. 92.
t Loco citât.