In their physical character, the American Indians are considered by
Blumenbach as forming a particular variety of the human species,
differing, though not very widely, from the Mongolian. Believing, as we
do, that the New World was peopled from the Old, and considering that the
Mongol race was situated nearest to the point where Asia and America come
almost into contact, we incline to ascribe these variations merely to a
change of outward circumstances. The face is broad and flat, with high
cheek-bones; more rounded and arched, however, than in the allied type,
without having the visage expanded to the same breadth. The forehead
is generally low; the eyes deep, small, and black; the nose rather
diminutive, but prominent, with wide nostrils; and the mouth large, with
somewhat thick lips. The stature, which varies remarkably throughout the
Continent, is, in the quarter of which we treat, generally above the
middle size. This property, however, is confined to the men, the females
being usually below that standard, a fact which may be confidently
ascribed to the oppressive drudgery they are compelled to undergo.
The limbs, in both sexes, are well proportioned; and few instances of
deformity ever occur.
The colour of the skin in the Indian is generally described as red
or copper-coloured; or, according to Mr. Lawrence’s more precise
definition, it is “an obscure orange or rusty iron colour, not unlike
the bark of the cinnamon-tree.” Although we believe that climate is
the chief cause of the diversities in human colour, yet it is certain
that all savages are dark-tinted. This peculiarity may be accounted for
by their constant exposure to the inclemency of the seasons, to sun,
air, and tempests; and the same cause in civilized countries produces
a similar effect on sailors, as well as on those who work constantly
in the fields. In the Old World, the intermediate tints between white
and black are generally varieties of brown and yellow. The red tint is
considered characteristic of the New World. We must, however, observe,
that the traveller Adair, who lived upward of thirty years among the
Indians, positively asserts that it is artificially produced; that in
the oil, grease, and other unctuous substances with which they keep
their skin constantly smeared, there is dissolved the juice of a root
which gradually tinges it of this colour. He states, that a white man,
who spent some years with the natives, and adorned himself in their
manner, completely acquired it. Charlevoix seems also to lean to the same
opinion. Weld, though rather inclined to dissent from it, admits that
such a notion was adopted by missionaries and others who had resided
long in the country. It is certain that the inhabitants glory in this
colour, and regard Europeans who have it not as nondescript beings, not
fully entitled to the name of men. It may be noticed also, that this
tint is by no means so universal as is commonly supposed. Humboldt
declares that the idea of its general prevalence could never have arisen
in equinoctial America, or been suggested by the view of the natives in
that region; yet these provinces include by far the larger part of the
aboriginal population. The people of Nootka sound and other districts of
the north-western coast are nearly as white as Europeans; which may be
ascribed, we think, to their ample clothing and spacious habitations.
Thus the red nations appear limited to the eastern tribes of North
America, among whom generally prevails the custom of painting or smearing
the skin with that favourite colour. We are not prepared to express a
decided opinion on this subject; but it obviously requires a closer
investigation than it has yet received.
The hair is another particular in which the races of mankind remarkably
differ. The ruder classes are generally defective, either in the
abundance or quality of that graceful appendage; and the hair of the
American Indians, like that of their allied type the Mongols, is coarse,
black, thin, but strong, and growing to a great length. Like the latter,
also, by a curious coincidence, most of them remove it from every part
of the head, with the exception of a tuft on the crown, which they
cherish with much care. The circumstance, however, which has excited the
greatest attention, is the absence of beard, apparently entire, among
all the people of the New World. The early travellers viewed it as a
natural deficiency; whence Robertson and other eminent writers have even
inferred the existence of something peculiarly feeble in their whole
frame. But the assertion, with all the inferences founded upon it, so
far as relates to the North American tribes, has been completely refuted
by recent observation. The original growth has been found nearly, if not
wholly, as ample as that of Europeans; but the moment it appears, every
trace is studiously obliterated. This is effected by the aged females,
originally with a species of clam-shell, but now by means of spiral
pieces of brass-wire supplied by the traders. With these an old squaw
will in a few minutes reduce the chin to a state of complete smoothness;
and slight applications during the year clear away such straggling hairs
as may happen to sprout. It is only among old men, who become careless of
their appearance, that the beard begins to be perceptible. A late English
traveller strongly recommends to his countrymen a practice which, though
scarcely accordant with our ideas of manly dignity, would, at the expense
of a few minutes’ pain, save them much daily trouble. The Indians have
probably adopted this usage, as it removes an obstacle to the fantastic
painting of the face, which they value so highly. A full beard, at all
events, when it was first seen on their French visiters, is said to have
been viewed with peculiar antipathy, and to have greatly enhanced the
pleasure with which they killed these foreigners.
The comparative physical strength of savage and civilized nations has
been a subject of controversy. A general impression has obtained that
the former, inured to simple and active habits, acquire a decided
superiority; but experience appears to have proved that this conclusion
is ill founded. On the field of battle, when a struggle takes place
between man and man, the Indian is usually worsted. In sportive
exercises, such as wrestling, he is most frequently thrown, and in
leaping comes short of his antagonist. Even in walking or running, if
for a short distance, he is left behind; but in these last movements he
possesses a power of perseverance and continued exertion to which there
is scarcely any parallel. An individual has been known to travel nearly
eighty miles in a day, and arrive at his destination without any symptoms
of fatigue. These long journeys, also, are frequently performed without
any refreshment, and even having the shoulders loaded with heavy burdens,
their capacity of supporting which is truly wonderful. For about twelve
miles, indeed, a strong European will keep ahead of the Indian; but then
he begins to flag, while the other, proceeding with unaltered pace,
outstrips him considerably. Even powerful animals cannot equal them in
this respect. Many of their civilized adversaries, when overcome in war,
and fleeing before them on swift horses, have, after a long chase, been
overtaken and scalped.