36 CHARACTERISTICS OF THE TUSKI. 



reindeer are destroyed by salt water ; the aliens 

 require deer-skins for hut furniture. 



The Tuski Proper are mostly either tall or stunted 

 in their growth, few persons appearing of a middle 

 statm'e. I estimate the average height of the tall 

 men to be about 5 ft. 10 in., while the more puny 

 would probably not exceed 5 ft. 5 in. This differ- 

 ence does not hold good as regards their build ; all 

 are large limbed, broad shouldered, and of a robust 

 full habit, possessing great strength, powers of 

 endurance, activity, and dexterity in their employ- 

 ments. The women do not vary so much in stature, 

 and are tall in proportion to the men ; they also are 

 stout and strong, and display a notable performance 

 of their numerous duties. 



The cast of skull and countenance are, as far as 

 my very limited knowledge of the subject extends, 

 pure Mongolian ; faces broad, round and flat ; high 

 cheek-bones ; nose broad, flat and almost bridgeless, 

 in many instances so deeply sunken in the fat face, 

 that a ruler would nearly lie across the cheeks 

 without touching it ; eyes placed in a slightly oblique 

 position ; lips large and heavy, displaying much of 

 the animal ; ears small and delicate ; hands and feet 

 also very small but rather thick ; hair jet black, 

 coarse and straight ; whiskers or beard but seldom 



