flat nose, the thinness of the hair on the chin and the other
parts of the body, the long smooth black hair o f the head,
the yellowish or bright reddish tint of the skin, are all characteristics
common to the physiognomy of both races. The
mistrustful, cunning, and, as it is said, often thievish character,
and the expression of a mean way of thinking and a mechanical
disposition, appear, in both, in the same manner. In
comparing the Mongole physiognomy with the American, the
observer has opportunity enough to find traces of the series
of developements through which the Eastern Asiatic had toi
pass, under the influence of climate, in order at length to
be transformed into an American.: In these anthropological
investigations, we arrive at the remarkable, result, that certain
characteristics, which constitute the principal differences
of races, do not easily pass into others, whereas those
which depend only upon more or less, gradually vanish or de-/
generate, through a series of different gradations.” “ The
physiognomical characteristics of the Mongole, Caucasian, Malay,
and American races blend with each other through sóv
many shades, that we are involuntarily led to presume a common
fundamental type for -all these in distinction from' the
Ethiopian. This perhaps is most strikingly marked in the
Mongole, and to it the above-mentioned various conformations
must perhaps be referred as so many forms of developement
occasioned by climate.” -
The same writers in describing the tribes termed Puris, Co-
ropos, and Coroados introduce some further observations^ on
the general character of the American races, which I shall extract,
as they seem to fill up the picture of these nations,
and to convey a tolerably complete idea of their most striking
physical peculiarities.
“ All the Indians of the tribes of the Puris, Coropos, and
Coroados, whom we saw here, had an extraordinary resemblance
in make and countenance ; and their individual features, probably
from want of civilization, have more of the general physiognomy
of the race, than is now the case in the other tribes.
■The Indians are of a ^hort or middle stature, the men from
four to five, feet high, and the women a little above four, all are
of robust, broad, compact make.., It is very seldom that some
of a taller and more slender shape are seen among them. The
breast is broad, the neck short and th ick ; the female breast is
not so pendent a&in thq^Negresses, the belly very prominent.
The extremities are short, the,Ifgs far from full, and the calves
in particular thin, the ar;rns. round and muscular. The foot is
narrow behind and very- broad before, the great toe parted from
the others. The hands , are almost* always cold, the fingers
proportionably. thinr the nails, which they constantly bite, are
very short. The hue of skin is a darker or lighter copper-colour,
differing a little according to the age, - occupation, and health
of -the individuals.; Infants are of a yellowish white, like mula
tto ^ ; sick persons become .pf a brownish yellow colour; it is
very rare to find among them albinos,,,, or any that are; ,d^k-
spotted. On the whpfey their* colour is darker in proportion as,
they are stronger and more active. On- the slower p a r t ^ the
body, and the legs: and arms, the red brown colour sometimes
ehariges-to a blacker shade; in the joints it^s p a lm a r yfoitish.
The Indian, properly'speaking cannot blush, 'and the; KEru-
bescit, salva res esi,’ cannot be applied to this • unpolished
raee; It was only .after long interepurse. with the whites, and
aftdr receiving stpne education, tfeal we perceived in the Indians.
a. change of |cc^ohri expressjv&|)Tthe, emotions of their
mind^/i’ Their skin is very fine, soft, shining; and. whepex-
posedjto inclined to'perspiration. Their long, coa»Se„
stiff,, and glossy black hair hangs down thick and in a disor-^
derly manner. The beard of the men is in general* thin, but
we- saw some men with thick beards. The crown of the head
and cheek-bones are broad,,corresponding with the. breadth of
the breast. The forehead^s low, the temples.projecting,, nap*
row above and falling very much back. /paeback part of the
head by no means hangs as low as in a, Negto, whose skull is ;
indeed narrow and much more oblong than that o f the Indian.
The countenance, is broad and angular, and projects much lesssj
than in the Negro, but more than in the Kalmuk.or the^Eur*©^
peaii. The ears are small and neatly made, rath^p turned, outwards,
not pierced and disfigured by heavy^bpdieS,; The eye
is small and dark brown, placed sideways, the- inner comer
turned towards the nose,:. the,eye-brawA;thfm,^33>di very high in
the middle; the nose is short, slightly depressedabove, broad