coming brown in tbe labouring class who are exposed to
the suit. “ We saw women in »China, though very few,
that Haight pass for beauties even in Europe. The Malay
features prevail in most; a small black or dark-brown
eye, a short rounded nose, generally flattened; .‘lips considerably
thicker than in Europeans, and black hair, are
universal.”*
It must be observed that Sir John Barrow saw principally
the Chinese of the sea coast and not those of the high countries
in the interior.
I shall add one more description of the persons of the
Chinese. It is from Timkouski, who had good opportunities
of personal observation. He says,—
“ The Chinese,in general, are of a middle stature. Their
limbs,"especially their hands and feet, are very small; their
complexion yellow or brownish, according to the places
which they inhabit, and their mode of livings Those ’ of
the northern provinces are much taller and . fairer than
those of Kiang-si and Konang-tOilng. The coolies or porters,
being continually exposed to the air, are more tanned
than the Konang or Mandarins, and much browner than
the women, who live shut up in the harems. Their'-face
is rather flat, the cheek-bones high, the nose small, the
eyes prominent and oblique; the complexion, the black
and stiff hair, the scanty whiskers and beard, indicate the
connection of the Chinese with the Mongole, which must
be dated from the time of the Mongolian conquest of China.
The difference between the Chinese and the Mandschoos' is
almost imperceptible; the latter are however fatter and
more robust.”
“ Though the physiognomy of the women is more agreeable
than that of the men they are very far from possessing
the beauty which is admired in the Georgian and other
women of Asia. There are women in China, especially
among the Mandschoos, who have as fine complexions as
the handsomest women in Europe, without the aid of white
paint or of rouge, of which many of them make' an immoderate
use. But, on the other hand, their little eyes,
J * Barrow’s Travels in China, p. 185.
through'.Wttbfc an&vbrilliant, haveimot the pleasing expression
of the large bliue^or black , eyes of the European
women. In general the*1 countenances of the Mandschu
women almost^itirfely^'fte^emlfe those of the men.
Par'agrapti 2.— Of {he Physical Characters df the
Japanese.
- The following description of the persons of the Japanese
was given* by Kaempfer :— -
_____ “ Although the;- Japianese>in the main, particularly
the common people of Nipon, be^ef -a very ugly ap-
pearan$S short-sized,- stron’g, thick-legged, tawny, with
flattish noses, and thick eyelids (though thei eyes stand
;not so’defep in the forehead as those of the Chinese>, yet
■the descendants of theeMe^and noblest families, of .the
princes and - lords of the empire, have ’somewhat more,
majestic in their shape and. countenance^ being more like
the Europeans.. The inhabitants of the provinces Satzu-
ma, Oosijmi, and Finga, are of a middle size, strong, courageous,
and manly, otherwise^eivil and §i§|ite. The same
is observed of some of the northern provinces^-the great
island of Nipon,- but the natives ofMsome districts of.Sai-
kokf, particularly of Fisen, are short, slender-, but well-
shaped, of a good handsome appearance, and extremely
polite. The inhabitants of the- great-island of -Nipon,
particularly-of its eastern provinces, are known from others
by their big heads, flat noses, and museulous fleshy, complexion.”*
Thunberg has given a much more distinct and intelligible
account of this people. p -
N “ The people of this nation are well made, active; free,,
and easy in their motions, with stout limbs, although their
strength is not to be compared with that of the northern
inhabitants of Europe. The men are of the middling size,
and in general not very corpulent; yet I have seen some
that were fat. They are of a yellowish colour all over,
sometimes bordering on brown, and sometimes on white.
* Ksempfer’s History of Japan, pi 95. <
VOL. IV. v * 3 S