Ti
m I »
218 CEANIA BRITANNICA. [CHAP. VI I .
purposes, and carry them out with a perseverance wliieh approaches to stubbornness. Alas !
that, in crime and wrong-doing, they should manifest the same elements. Their great fondness
for the horse, and their devotedness to horse-racing and equestrian sports, have been attributed
to the insensible tendencies prevailing in a great grazing country; but their remote ancestors,
the Danes and Norsemen, bad almost an equal fame as horsemen and shipmen, and it is doubtless
to them that the modern Torkshireman owes these tastes *.
The men of Lincolnshire may be regarded as another branch of the descendants from the
same bold Scandinavian ancestors, and are almost equally distinguished by the same mental
and physical characteristics. We are enabled to introduce a few notes taken by Dr. Beddoe on
the inhabitants of both sexes at Boston, Lincoln, and Stamford; for this is the order of their
Danish affinity, as proved by the index of nigrescence. The results show how greatly every
recognizable British element has been eradicated on this portion of the east coast t.
Hoir.
No. of
Persons.
Sei.
Eyes Light.
Eyes
Light.
Eyes Intermediate. Eyes
Neutral.
Eyes Dark.
Eyes
Dark.
Index.,
Red. Pair. Brn. Dork. Nig,
Red. Fail-. Brn. Dark. Nig.
Red. Pair. Brn. Dark. Nig.
Boston, peasants
Boston, town
Lincoln, city
Stamford, peasants
Stamford, town ...
130
S40
« 0
175
200
J Men...
Eqnal ...
Both ...
Equal ...
IWomen
3-4 ;24-0
4-7 |17-
2-3 14-5
3-9 19-4
4- ,11-51
S6ii
27-8
30-5
331
30-
S'4
6-9
8-7
9-4
9-
-2
69-9
6fi-4
62-2
668
54-Ó
•i'
•4
2 8
1-2
I-
•7
6-
6-8
4-9
6-
7 "2
1-9
4-
4-1
.5-7
6-
•2
•3
9-2
12-1
10-6
12-
13-9
1 1
1-2
•9
2-
2-3
1-2
1-2
-3
1-
6-
12-0
7-5
4-3
6-
11-1
15-7
15-7
13-7
20-5
-4
1-3
1-7
2-8
3-
20-9
31-4
27-0
21-1
31-5
- 1 4 - 5
+ 3-8
+12-4
+12-4
+22-3
To take them as they thus stand. The people of and about Boston are seen to have the
lightest hair of any population observed in the British islands. The iadex of nigrescence descends
to —14'5. They have a very northern look, like Norwegians; of full average stature; faces
oval, with slight tendency to breadth about the cheek-bones, foreheads well-developed, brows
regularly but moderately arched; nose of good length, and often slightly aquiline ; chin broad
and rovinded; complexions and hair very light. Upon the whole, they are a weU-looking set of
people. Those of the city of Lincoln are of full middle stature, rather strong make, face oblongovate,
with slight tendency to breadth of cheek-bones, nose of good length, straight or slightly
aqtiiline, profile good, complexion fair. Those of Stamford resemble more the mixed population
of the Midland Counties.
In Norfolk and Suffolk we are prepared to meet with a greater amount of Anglo-Saxon
blood mingled with that of the last series of invaders f- The observations we are enabled to
record are too few to make this point prominent; still they will serve to show that a strong
northern strain was introdiiced into the population of East Anglia. The average stature of 18
this latter county, into which recent immigration has been so
1 8 5 1 - 2 , p. 125. This picture, like the majority of those noticed,
very great. Mr. John .Tust has remarked, that the Hundred
which take the same subjects for the canvas, betrays
of Salibrd is Saxon. " Perhaps it includes natives who are
too much of the ideal.
less mised with a Scandinavian population than any other in
* Everywhere in the Saxon Chronicle we read of the familiarity
the north of England. As specimens of the Anglo-Saxon
of the Scandinavian invaders with the horse. The
breed, that of genuine Mercians, this hundred supplies, in the
Danish troops were horsemen, and they could thus speedily
rural districts especially, multitudes of individuals, male and
transport their forces to distant parts of the island. Under
female. The broad bulky chest and square shoulders, low
the date 866, a great heathen army is related to have invaded
broad foreheads, ruddy complexions, and sinewy legs and arms,
the country, and to have taken up their winter quarters in East
show the make of the old Mercian—one who, although he
Anglia, where " they were horsed." This is the army which
might be slow in his movements, and not over ready in his
took Nottingham, and the year after went to York, subsequently
apprehension, yet was difScult to put out of bis way, if he felt
riding across Mercia into East Anglia again. We read of the
the disinclination. He had a low tower of strength in himself,
horsed part of their armies which Alfred rode after and pursued
not found in any of his fellows. Only let him fight long
to Exeter, and, at a subsequent period, when their forces
enough, and the victory was ever his own."—The Danes in
were in the valley of the Severn and greatly starved, that they
Lancashire, Hist. Soc. of Lane, and Chesh., Session IV.
ate a great part of their horses. f Ante, p. 184.
CHAP. VI I . ] ETHNOLOGICAL RELATIONS OF THE PRESENT POPULATION. 219
men of King's Lynn was found to be 5 feet 8 inches, a taUness evidently uncommon; their
average weight 156 lbs., and the average of the circumference of their heads 21-8 inches. They
were of fair complexion. An intelligent hatter in large business there says he orders about 60
per cent, of his hats of the sizes of 7 and 6 | *. The average stature of the Norfolk Artillery
Militia is 5 ft. 6 in. without shoes. The men of the county are for the most part stout, thickset,
and broad in the chest and shoulders. They are remarkable for the smaUness of their feet.
The character of the face is oval, inclining to be broad; cheek-bones and eyebrows not usually
prominent; the nose straight, seldom aquiline; chin somewhat broad and soUd, rarely receding.
Light and florid complexions greatly predominate ; the forehead is square; the hair generally
of a light colour, flaxen or brown; the eyes light grey, blue, or hazel. The skuU is inclined to
be broad and square, i. e. platycephaKc. The mental characteristics are a determined courage
which knows no fear nor when beaten, and great perseverance and power of endurance. They
are patient, not easily excited, but when stirred up very difficult to be put down, are to be
controlled by kindness, but of too independent a spirit to be harshly dominated over f.
We have gone over a number of districts on the north and east coasts of our island in
which the Scandinavian invaders have left their most permanent records behind in the elements
of a population which is very widely distributed. We have pursued this portion of our inquiry
to a somewhat greater length, because the facts are probably not sufficiently acknowledged and
appreciated; yet we are prepared to believe that there is no strain in the complex blood which
flows in the veins of EngKshmen that is so influential and of such sterling worth as that
derived from a rude northern source ; besides which, no portion of the population of the British
Islands proves more clearly the permanency of the elements of race, and its all-predominating
influence.
* Dr. John Lowe, of King' s Lvnn. + Mr. Charles Palmer, of Great Yarmouth.
(J. B. D.)