AN ** ALMOST WHITE " RACR. 73 



when they retired with far greater rapidity than 

 they had advanced. 



Mr. Usborne mentions, in an account of this in- 

 terview (published in the Nautical Magazine for 

 1840, page 576), that one of the party differed in 

 several physical characteristics from the rest. After 

 describing them in general terms as being from five 

 feet six, to five feet nine inches tall, broad shoulders, 

 long and slight legs, large heads, and overhang- 

 ing brows, — he continues, " There was an exception 

 in the youngest, who appeared of an entirely dif- 

 ferent race : his skin was a copper colour, while 

 the others were black ; his head was not so large, 

 and more rounded ; the overhanging brow was lost ; 

 the shoulders more of an European turn ; and the 

 body and legs much better proportioned ; in fact, 

 he might be considered a well made man, at our 

 standard of figure." A similar instance of meeting 

 with one of a tribe, not apparently belonging to the 

 same subdivision of the human family as those by 

 whom he was surrounded, is recorded by Captain 

 Grey, who speaks indeed of the existence of a dis- 

 tinct race, "totally different" (i.e. from the other 

 aborigines) "and almost white." I cannot say that I 

 have myself encountered any of these "almost 

 white" men, whose existence, as a distinct race. 

 Captain Grey appears to have rather hastily ad- 

 mitted ; such variation in form and colour as Mr. 

 Usborne alludes to, may, however, be accounted for 

 by the intercourse which the natives on the north 

 coast hold from time to time with the Malays. 



