Now Morton’s Collection contains
four well-marked Circassian
heads,—two male and two
female,—which, although they
do not strictly coincide in structure
and configuration with the
Georgian skull, nevertheless approximate
more decidedly the
Japhetic or European form than
the Mongolian, as will be seen
by the annexed cut and description
of one of these crania, that
of a man, setat. 40 years, and
Fig. 87.
exhibiting an internal capacity of 90 cubic inches. .The calvaria is
well developed and regularly arched, and in size considerably exceeds
the face. The proportions between the vertical, transverse, and longitudinal
diameters are such as to convey to the eye an impression
of harmony and regularity of structure. The highland broad forehead
forms with the parietal region a continuous and symmetrical
convexity. The occiput is full and prominent. The face is strongly
marked; the orbits moderate in size; the nasal bones prominent;
the malar bones small and rounded; the teeth vertical; the maxillse
of medium size, and the chin prominent. The fulness of the face,
its oval contour, and’ general want of angularity, decidedly separate
this head from the Mongolian type, as represented by the Kalmuck
skull already figured and described. Did space permit, other differences
could readily be pointed out.
These characters accord very well with the descriptions of these
people, given us by different travellers. The Circassians who call
themselves Attighe or Adige'(Zychi of the Greeks and Latins, Tcher-
kess of the Russians) have always been celebrated for their personal
charms. Mr. S pe n c e r says that, among the Nottahaizi tribe, every
individual he saw was decidedly handsome.227 “ The men,” says
visit the collection in which it is contained. The vertical and frontal regions form a large
and smooth convexity, which is a little flattened at the temples; the forehead is high and
broad, and carried forwards perpendicularly over the face. The cheek-bones are small,
descending from the outer side of the orbit, and gently turned back. The superciliary
ridges run together at the root of the nose, and are smoothly continued into the bridge of
that organ, which forms an elegant and finely-turned arch. The alveolar processes are
softly rounded, and the chin is full and prominent. In the whole structure, there is nothing
rough or harsh, nothing disagreeably projecting. Hence, it occupies a middle place between
the two opposite extremes, of the Mongolian variety, in which the face is flattened, and
expanded laterally; and the Ethiopian, in which the forehead is contracted, and the jaws
also are narrow and elongated anteriorly.”— Lawrence, op. cit., p. 228.
227 Travels in Circassia, ii., 245.
P allas , “ especially among the higher classes, are mostly of a tall
stature, thin form, but Herculean structure. They are very slender
about the loins, have small feet, and uncommon strength in their
arms. They possess, in general, a truly Roman and martial appearance.
The women are not uniformly Circassian beauties, but are,
for the most part, well formed, have a white skin, dark-brown or
black hair, and regular features.............I have met with a greater
number of beauties among them than in any other unpolished
nation.”228 Says K laproth,— “ They have brown hair and eyes, long
faces, thin, straight noses, and elegant forms.”220 “ Their profile
approaches nearest the Grecian model,” writes M orton, “ and fallu
little short of the beau-ideal of classic sculpture.”230 The Abassians,
probably autochthones of the north-west Caucasus, — “ are distinguished
from all the neighbouring nations by their narrow faces, by
the figure of their heads, which are compressed on both sides, by the
shortness of the lower part of the face, by their prominent noses and
dark-brown hair. 231 Erom all accounts, the Georgians, “ a people
of European features and form,” are but little, if at all, inferior to
the Circassians in physical endowments. According to R eineggs,
the Georgian women are even more beautiful than the Circassians.2®
“Le sang de Géorgie,” says C h a r d in , “ est le plus beau de l’Orient,
et je puis dire, du monde. Je n’ai pas remarqué un visage laid en
ce pays-la, parmi l’un et l’autre sexe, mais j ’y en ai vu d’angéliques.”
233
The extreme south-eastern section of the European ethnic area,
occupying mainly the table-land of Iran, is represented in the Mor-
tonian Collection by six Armenian, two Persian, and one AffgW
skull. A general family resemblance pervades all these crania.
They are all, with one exception, remarkable for the smallness of the
face, and shortness of head. In the Armenian skull, the forehead is
narrow but well formed, the convexity expanding upwards and backwards
towards the parietal protuberances, and laterally towards the’
temporal bones. The greatest transverse diameter is between the
parietal bosses. This feature, combined with the flatness of the oc-
ciput, gives to the coronal region an outline somewhat resembling a
triangle with all three angles truncated, and the base of the triangle
looking posteriorly. In fact, the whole form of the calvaria is such
às to impress the mind of the observer with a sense of squareness
228 Travels in Southern Provinces of the Russian Empire, I. 398.
229 Travels in Caucasian Countries.
280 Crania Americana, p. 8. 381 Klaproth, Caucasus, p. 257.
282 Allgemeine historische-topographische Beschreibung des Kaukasus.
238 Voyages en Perse, I., 171.