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.