MAMMALIA— MA N. 55 



head is large ; their body is meagre ; their limbs are slender. They seldom 

 live longer than forty years ; and of this short duration of life, the causes 

 doubtless are, their being so fond of filth, and residing continually in the 

 midst of it ; as also their living upon meat which is tainted or corrupted, 

 of which indeed their nourishment chiefly consists. We might dwell longer 

 upon the description of this nasty people ; but as most travellers have given 

 very large accounts of them, to their writings we refer. One fact, however, 

 related by Tavernier, we ought not to pass in silence. The Dutch, he says, 

 snce took a Hottentot girl, soon after her birth ; and after bringing her 

 up among themselves, she became as white as an European. From this 

 circumstance he presumes, that all the Hottentots would be of a tole- 

 rable whiteness, were it not for tbeir custom of perpetually begriming 

 themselves. 



Though in America, we observe less variety in the human form than 

 might be expected in so extremely extensive a continent, it cannot yet be 

 supposed, but that, in such a diversity of climates and situations, a conside- 

 rable diversity of inhabitants must also be found. 



In beginning our inquiries, then, we find in the most northern parts 

 of America, a species of Laplanders, similar to those of Europe, or to the 

 Samoyedes of Asia ; and though, in comparison to the latter, they are few 

 in number, yet they are diffused over a considerable extent of ground. Those 

 who inhabit the land of Davis' Strait are of a diminutive size, of an olive 

 complexion, and their legs are short and thick. They are skilful fishers ; 

 they eat their fish and their meat raw ; their drink consists of pure water, 

 or of the blood of the dog-fish ; they are, moreover, very strong, and gene- 

 rally live to a great age. Here we see the figure, the color, and the man- 

 ners of the Laplanders ; and, what is truly singular is, that, as among the 

 Laplanders of Europe, we meet with the Finlanders, who are white, comely, 

 tall, and tolerably well made ; so, in like manner, among the Laplanders 

 of America, we meet with another species of men, tall, well made, tolerally 

 white, and with features exceedingly regular. 



Of a different race from the former, seem to be the savages of Hudson's 

 Bay, and northward of the land of Labrador : they are, however, ugly, 

 diminutive, and unshapely ; their visage is almost entirely covered with 

 hair, like the savages of the country of Yesso, northward of Japan. In 

 summer they dwell under tents made of skins of the rein-deer ; in winter 

 they live under ground, liKe the Laplanders and the Samoyedes, and, like 

 them, sleep together promiscuously, and without the smallest distinction. 

 They likewise live to a great age, though they feed on nothing but raw 

 meat and fish. The savages of Newfoundland have a considerable resem- 

 blance to those of Davis' Strait ; they are low in stature ; they have little 

 or no beard ; their visage is broad and flat ; their eyes are large ; they are 

 generally rather flat-nosed ; and, upon the whole, are far from being unlike 

 the savages of the northern continent, and of the environs of Greenland. 



