*774-
Ju l y . Bat I am far from being convinced of this general and
powerful influence of climates. I have only ventured out
into the great field of probabilities, and am ready to quit
my opinion as foon as another more juft and more rational
is offered. New Guinea and the iflands adjacent, the only
countries from whence we can expedt fome light on this
fubjedt, ftill remain unknown to us, not only in regard to
their geographical'fituation, but more efpecially as to their
inhabitants. From the voyagers who have vifited that part
of the world * it appears that many diftindt tribes dwelt
in its different parts. But it is particularly to be remarked,
that befides the black race, there are alfo fome of a lighter
colour, who, if we may judge from their cuftoms, feem to
be related to the natives of the Society and Friendly Iflands.
Some other tribes there are who may, in all probability, be
a mixture of both races. The Sender form of the MallicoL-
lefe is a charadter, as far as I know, peculiar to them and
the New Hollanders; but that nation hath nothing in
common with them in all other refpefts. Their cuftom of
tying a rope very faft round their belly is ftill more Angular,
and would be fatal to a perfon unaccuftomed from infancy
to fuch an abfurd ligature. The rope was as thick
as a man’s finger, and cut fuch a deep notch acrofs the
navel, that the belly feemed in a manner double, one part
being above and the other below the rope. Their bracelets.
* Dampier, Carteret, Bougainville.
which
which prefs the upper arm fo clofely, muft have been put
on while the natives are very young, and appear to have
been contrived upon the fame principle. The features of
thefe people, though remarkably irregular and ugly, yet
are full of great fprightlinefs, and exprefs a quick compre-
henfion. Their lips and the lower part of their face are
entirely different .from thofe of African Negroes ; but the-
upper part, efpecially the nofe, is of a very fimilar, conformation,
and the fubftance of the hair the fame. The depref-
fion of their forehead mayperhaps be artificial, as the heads
of infants may be fqueezed into all kinds of forms. On
the continent of America there are many inftances of nations
who disfigure their heads to make them refemble the fun,
the moon, or fome other objedt. But, upon the whole, this
figure of the forehead among the Mallicollefe is not carried
to excefs, and does not remarkably encreafe their uglinefs.
The climate of Mallicollo, and the adjacent iflands, is very
warm, but perhaps not at all times fo temperate as at Ta-
heitee, becaufe the extent of land is infinitely greater. However,
during our fhort ftay we experienced no unufual degree
of heat, the thermometer being at y 6° and y 8°,.
which is very moderate in the torrid zone. Drefs, in fuch
a climate, is to be confidered as an article of luxury, and
cannot properly be placed among the indifpenfible necefla-
ries. At Mallicollo they have not yet attained that degree-
of opulence which could have fuggefted the invention of
garments.
jaj.
Ju l y .