laid down as characteristic of this people, largely predominates over
all others. It is everywhere peculiar, and hears no resemblance to
any known nation of ancient or modern epochas throughout the
world.
Mean Results, selected from Mobton’s Table.534
Toltecan nations,
including
skulls from the
mounds.
Barbarous nations,
with skulls
from the Talley
of the Ohio.
American Race,
embracing the
Toltecans & Barbarous
notions.
Flat-head tribes
Qf Columbia
River.
. Ancient Peruvians.
Facial an- i
gle
Internal
capacity
in cu. in. '
75° 35' -
76-8
76° 13'
82-4
I 75° 45'
j 79-6
69° 30'
79-25
67° 20'
73-2
M ongol-A m er ic a n s — E sk im a u x .
The Polar family, -which are identical on both continents, display one of the strongest
possible contrasts with the aboriginal Americans ; and no one can compare the crania of
the two, and suppose that one continent was populated from the other through the Eskimaux
channel. In fact, the Eskimaux are confined to a polar zone, as well in America as-
in Asia.
Dr. Morton obtained, from Mr. George Combe, four genuine Eskimaux skulls, of which
figures are grouped below (Figs. 828-326). The eye at once remarks their narrow elongated
form, the projecting upper jaw, the extremely flat nasal bones, the expanded zygomatic
arches, the broad, expanded cheek-bones, and the full and prominent occipital region.
“ The extreme
Fig. 323. Fig. 324. elongation of the
upper jaw con-
1 tracts the facial
angle to a mean
of 73°, while the
mean of 3 heads
of the 4, gives an
internal capacity
of 87 cubic in.,
a near approach
to the Caucasian
average.”535 The
Eskimaux. t Eskimaux. diagrams h e r e
given will enable
the r e a d e r to
Ifefe 325. Fia. 326. make Ms EsM.
maux comparisons
still more in
détail. Fig« 323
is .I from Davis’s
Strait, the largest
head in the
series, and the
best frontal development.
The
Eskimaux. Eskimaux. nasal bones are
Sn flat as to be scarcely perceptible.” “ On this skull (Fig. 324) is written the brief memorandum
I Found in the snow, by Capt. Parry.’ In every particular, a well-characterized
w lm a u x head! ” Fig. 325 was “ found by Mr. John Turnbull, -Surgeon, upon Disco
Island, coast of Greenland, in the summer of 1825.” And “ this skull (Fig. 326) was obtained
at Icy Cape, the northwest extremity of America, and is marked, ‘ from A. Collie,
Esa.. Surgeon of H. M.’s ship Blossom.’ ” ,,
Nothing can be more obvious than the contrast between these Eskimaux heads and those
of all other tribes of this continent. They ape the only people in America who present the
characters of an Asiatic race; and, being bounded closely on the south by genume aborigines
they seem placed here as'if to give a practical illustration.of the irrefragable distinctness
of races; together with an example, that'modifications of human types are independent
of any physical causes but direct amalgamation.
M. Jacquinot not only regards all the American race3 (exclusive of the Eskimaux). aB one
raoe” but as a branch of the same race as the Polynesians. He is very positive in this
opinion, and rests it solely upon resemblance of type; at the same time acknowledging
that to the present day, no affinity between the languages of America and Polynesia has
been discovered.536 It is with reluctance that we differ from an authority we prize so
highly; but, apart from the strange circumstance that M. Jaoquinot was unacquainted
with Morton’s labors, we do so on materials furnished by M. Dumoutier, who was his com-
pagnon de voyage '; for which we refer to our remarks upon Polynesian crania. No anatomist,
who has examined Dr. Morton’s collection, or lived, as I have done, for half a century
among Indian tribes, can subscribe to the opinion of M. Jacquinot; who does not appear
to have bestowed adequate consideration upon American craniology, nor, indeed, upon our
Indian questibns generally. n
Ethnography is yet unaware of its resources. The London j1 Times, of the 8th of Oc
ber, 1853, publishes the despatches of Commander McClure, to the British Admira ty,
through Which the existence of Arctic mm is announced, flourishing in a higher latitude
than any other Eskimaux heretofore known: — “ You will, Lam certain, be very happy to
learn that the Northwest Passage has been discovered by the Investigator, which event was
decided on the 26th October, 1850, by a sledge-party over the ice, from the position the
ship was frozen in. . . . We have been most highly favored,. . . in being able to extend our
search in quest of Sir John Franklin over a very large extent of coast, which was not
hitherto known, and found inhabited by a numerous tribe of Esquimaux, who had never
ere our arrival seen the face of the white man, and were really the most simple, interesting
people I ever m e t- liv in g entirely by the chase, and having no weapons except those used
for that object. The fiercer passions of our nature appeared unknown: they gave me a
pleasing idea of man fresh from his Maker’s hand, and uncontaminated by intercourse wit
our boasted civilization. All those who traded with th e Company were found the
greatest reprobates.”
A n n e x e d are
given, by way of
c o n t r a s t , but
w i t h o u t com-
Jient, two skulls
(Figs. 327, 328)
of the most prominent
A s ia t i c
types: viz., the
Tartar, and the ,
M o n g o l, which i
will sh ow how
greatly mode rn
races differ; not-,
withstanding the
Fig. 328.S38
Fig. 327.537
Chinese—Mongol. T a r ta r .