1332 



VARIETIES OF MANKIND. 



if we make allowance for the projection of the 

 jaws, and consider only its relation to the 

 cranial portion of the skull, the position of 

 the foramen magnum is found to be the same 

 in the Negro as in the European ; whilst in 

 the adult forms of the highest apes, as shown 

 by Professor Owen, it is removed very much 

 further back, although in the young it is nearer 

 the centre of the base. Again, it was stated 

 by White, and has been generally believed, 

 that the length of the fore arm in the Negro 

 is so much greater than in the European, as 

 to constitute a real approximation to the 

 quadrumanous type. But an extended com- 

 parison proves, that only a very slight differ- 

 ence exists between the average length of this 

 part in the two races ; and that this difference 

 is by no means greater than that which may 

 be observed on comparing the individuals of 

 which any single race or nation is composed. 

 On the other hand, a constant and decided 

 difference exists, as already pointed out, be- 

 tween all races of mankind and the highest 

 Quadrumana. Again, it has been supposed 

 that the Negro races are characterised by that 

 peculiar curved form of the bones of the leg, 

 which gives rise to what is popularly desig- 

 nated as the "cucumber-shin;" also by the 

 great elongation of the heel; and by the 



breadth and flatness of the foot. Such pecu- 

 liarities are doubtless to be observed among 

 individuals, and may be said to be general 

 among the inferior Negro tribes ; but they are 

 scarcely discoverable in the higher, among 

 which a remarkable degree of symmetry in 

 the conformation of these parts is often dis- 

 cernible. And it should not be forgotten that 

 the increased development of the heel, and 

 the flattening of the foot, are characters which 

 remove the Negro from the anthropoid apes, 

 still more widely than the European, instead 

 of being a character of approximation. It 

 has been further asserted, that the inferior 

 races generally are characterised by slender, 

 elongated, and mis-shapen limbs, and by a great 

 deficiency of physical power, as compared with 

 Europeans. This is undoubtedly true of 

 such as are habitually ill- fed, and live in a 

 condition of squalid ignorance. But it is 

 scarcely less true of those individuals among 

 any of the higher races, who are subjected 

 to the same conditions. Thus, although the 

 extreme of this condition is witnessed among 

 the Bosjesmans and Alfourous, yet approaches 

 to it may be seen among the lowest grades of 

 the population in the most civilised nations. 

 The accompanying figure (fig. 827), which 

 represents a group of Australians looking at a 



Fig, 827. 



mirror that had been presented to one of their 

 tribe, who had been clothed by the sailors of 

 the Astrolabe, might almost be supposed to be 

 intended for a set of half-starved Irish. More- 

 over, among the races which are considered 

 to exhibit this character in its most decided 

 form, individuals are often found, who, having 

 grown up under more favourable conditions, 



exhibit the most complete symmetry, and the 

 greatest vigour. Such, for example, are not 

 wanting among the Australian races, which 

 present a remarkable variety in this particular. 

 Among most savage races, the families of the 

 chiefs exhibit a higher grade of physical de- 

 velopment than the ordinary population ; and 

 this is quite sufficiently accounted for by the 



