80 REPORT—1845. 
risons. They are generally of a short stature, slight form, and light yellow skin. The 
trunk and other portions of the body are in conformity with this physical configuration, 
being somewhat robust and symmetrical in mould, with a tendency to great muscular 
development. The hair of the head of girls is invariably shaved off, with the excep- 
tion of a small tuft, and is not suffered to grow until they are married; it is then 
twisted into a number of plaits decorated with beads. Portions of their frame, and 
particularly the face, are tattooed in circular figures, and the anterior surface of the 
arm, in men as well as women, is ornamented with round smooth cicatrices of the 
size of a shilling. The government of this people is a monarchical despotism, rather 
mild in its general character. They destroy their criminals by poisoning, drowning 
and decapitation. A simple contract between the parties constitutes the law of 
marriage; and prior to their residing finally together, they sit in state for several 
days, well-attended and in gaudy attire. Polygamy exists amongst them in full force. 
Adultery is atoned for by a dreadful death. Among their funeral rites is that of im- 
molation, on an enormous scale, of men, women and children; and so fearful in 
former times was the observance of this custom, that many towns narrowly escaped 
depopulation. 
Dr. King reported that in the Journal of General Miller, Consul-General for the 
Pacific, which had been forwarded to him, light was thrown upon the manners and 
habits of the South Sea Islanders, and upon many of the complicated or debated 
problems connected with the population and its intermixture with the Red man of 
America; upon human sacrifice, cannibalism and infanticide ; and upon the effect of 
isolation and savage solitude upon runaways from ships and from convict labour. 
Lengthened extracts from General Miller’s Journal, upon these several points, were 
read, 
On the Egyptians and Americans. By the Marquis di Spinzto. 
On certain Traces of Roman Colonization in Lancashire. By Dr. Buack. 
From historical notices and inferences, conjoined with the affinities mentioned to 
have existed between the social institutions and languages of the Saxon conquerors 
and other contemporary emigrants and those of our Briton-Frisians, Dr. Black con- 
cludes that the latter would mostly remain in the country, become amalgamated in 
spirit, action and habits with the newly imported tribes from Germany, rather than 
seek to keep up a forced conventional polity with their old neighbours, the Britons. 
They would indeed soon become incorporated with the Saxons; take with them 
their fate as a nation; and from their numbers in the south of Lancashire, would 
probably constitute the greatest portion of the population. That many of the inha- 
bitants of this district, especially in the inland and rural parts, have long, and to this 
day, shown a distinctive variety of form, feature and vernacular dialect from those in 
the other parts of England, has been remarked by not a few observers. And the 
man of Heaton and the dark-eyed Lancashire witch still maintain—the one for the 
picturesque in manners and speech, and the other for her characteristic beauty— 
their wide-spread distinction among the hardy sons and fair daughters of England. 
Tables illustrative of the Height, Weight and Strength of Man, 
By Mr. Brent, 
It appears that there are in 100 Englishmen of all classes:— 
5 ft. 6 in. to 5 ft. 9 in. (middle height) ...... 40 
5 ft. 3 in. to 5 ft. 6 in, (short) ...........ceceeee 26 
5 ft. Oin. to 5 ft. 3 in. (very short).........00. 4 
— 30 short. 
100 
