INTRODUCTORY NOTE. 9 ' 



" Contrasted with this people, and occupying the country adjacent to 

 the Bay of Bengal, are the Bengalees small of stature, feeble in consti- 

 tution, and timid in disposition. They are obviously an aboriginal race, up- 

 on whom a foreign language has been imposed ; and are far inferior, both 

 mentally and physically, to the true Ayras. Weak and servile themselves, 

 they are surrounded by warrior castes ; and perhaps the most remarkable 

 feature of their character is the absence of will, and implicit obedience to 

 those who govern them." 



Of these child-like people, the Collection embraces 26 adult crania, of 

 which the largest measures 90 cubic inches ; the smallest 67 ; and the mean 

 of all is 78. 



The Mongolian group has received several additions since the death of 

 Dr. Morton. It is at present represented by 17 crania and 4 casts, distri- 

 buted as follows : 11 Chinese, 1 Japanese, 1 Burat-Mongol, 1 Kamschat- 

 kan, 1 Kalmuck, 5 Laplanders, and 6 Eskimos. 



Of ten Chinese crania, the largest measures 98 cubic inches ; the small- 

 est 70 ; while the mean is about 85. Through the kindness of Mr. Cramer, 

 of St. Petersburgh, a well marked Kalmuck skull has been added to the Col- 

 lection. It measures 93.75 cubic inches of internal capacity. Two true Lap- 

 lander's skulls measure respectively 94 and 102 inches ; while a hybrid Lap- 

 land skull gives 78.75. Of the 4 Eskimo crania, presented by the late Dr. E. 

 K. Kane, the largest internal capacity is 98; the smallest 80.5; givingamean 

 for all of 85.94. During his stay in this city, Mr. Combe, the Phrenologist, 

 loaned to Dr. Morton three Eskimo skulls, which were brought from the 

 Polar regions by Capt. Parry. The average measurement of these was 

 86.83 inches.* The mean size of the brain of this remarkable and inter- 

 esting Hyperborean people, (as deduced from this series of 7 skulls,) is 

 therefore about 86.32 inches. 



The Malay group comprises 26 crania of Malays proper, and 12 Poly- 

 nesians. The largest Malay skull measures " 97 cubic inches ; the smallest 

 68 ; and they give a mean of 86 ; a large brain for a roving and unculti- 

 vated people, who possess, however, the elements of civilization and re- 

 finement." The largest portion of this series has been collected with eth- 

 nological precision, "and so much resemble each other as to remind us of 

 the remark of Mr. Crawfurd that the true Malays are alike among them- 

 selves, but unlike all other nations. * * * * They have a rounded cranium, 

 with a remarkable vertical diameter and ponderous structure. The face is 

 flat, the cheekbones square and prominent, the ossa nasi long and more 

 or less flattened, and the whole maxillary structure strong and salient." 



The Polynesian family is represented by 7 Kanaka, 1 New Zealand and 1 

 Marquesan skulls. The Kanaka crania give a mean of 83 cubic inches of 

 internal capacity. 



The great American group is, in several respects, well represented in 

 the Collection. It includes490 crania, and 13 casts, making a total of 503 



* Crania Americana, p. 247. 



