UNKNOWN TONGUES. 255 



alike, and, at first sight, nothing strikes the inexperienced 

 traveller so much as the apparent similarity of eastern 

 nations. Who of us can read temper or health in the 

 faces of a thousand sheep ? and, yet, the shepherd knows 

 every one by unfailing signs, and is struck, at a glance, 

 by a change of expression. We are apt to forget, besides, 

 that there is among animals no disguise of features. We 

 all know, in an instant, an intelligent dog by his eye and 

 his gestures. Then, our face is smooth and tender beyond 

 all parts of the body, that of animals is covered with hair, 

 and, although we may see a dog move his lips to a smile, 

 and his eye most plainly shed tears, but little can be read 

 in his dark, hairy countenance. The blood may come 

 and go as quickly as the crimson blush on our cheek ; 

 he may "turn up his nose," and "frown 'with indigna- 

 tion" without our seeing any trace of it. 



Man's superiority in this language is great, but it is 

 artificial. He is independent of the body, which the an- 

 imal is not. Hunger may sorely try him, and anger 

 devour his heart : yet he can suppress every sign of his 

 want and his passion. On the other hand, he can exhibit 

 feelings which are not there ; the actor expresses a feigned 

 condition of soul ; the courtier, even, represents feelings the 

 very opposite of those that actually move him. 



Still, animals even may develop this humblest and sim- 

 plest language. They resemble the infant, that, in early 

 days, learns to understand the mother's loving look, that 

 cries for food, and soon smiles, in return for caresses, or 

 laughs in its child-like enjoyment. There is little but 

 fierce temper in the mustang's hairy face there is a world 



