OH, A TREATISE ON PILE. 31 



of Siam shave the heads and the eye-brows of such children as are committed to their care. 

 Every nation seems to have entertained diiferent prejudices, at different times in favor of one 

 part or another of the beard. Some have admired the hair upon the cheeks on each side, as we 

 see with some young men among ourselves Some like the hair lower down ; some choose it 

 curled; and others like it straight. Some have it cut into a peak, and others shave all but the 

 whisker. This particular part of the beard was highly prized among the Spaniards ; 'till 

 of late, a man, without whiskers was considered as unfit for company ; and where nature 

 had denied them, art took care to supply the deficiency. We are told of a Spanish 

 general, who, when he borrowed a large sum of money from the Venetians, panned his 

 whiskers ; which he afterwards took proper care to redeem. Kingson assures us that a 

 considerable part of the religion of the Tartars, consists in the management of their 

 whiskers : and that they waged a long and bloody war with the Persians, declaring them 

 infidels, merely because they would not (jive their whiskers the orthodox cut. The kings of 

 Persia wore their whiskers matted with gold thread ; and even the kings of France of the 

 first races, had them knotted and buttoned with gold. But of all nations, the Americans 

 [American Indians] take the greatest pains in cutting their hair and plucking their beards; 

 so that some have supposed them to have no beard naturally; and even Linnaeus has fall en 

 into that mistake. The hair is cut into bands, and no small care is employed in adjusting 

 the whisker." 



To the above we would add that the ancient Hebrews wore a beard upon the chin, but 

 not on the upper lip, and were divinely forbidden to cut their beards like the heathen 

 Egyptians, who left only a tuft of hair on the chin. Neglecting to trim the hair and beard 

 was expressive of great mourning. (See Isa., xv. 2. Jer., xli. 5, &c.) To forcibly shave 

 the beard of any one was considered an insult. (2 Sam. x., 4, 5.) 



The first Indians seen by Columbus at San Salvador, are described as entirely naked, 

 their black hair long and uncurled upon their shoulders, with no beards, and every part of 

 the body perfectly smooth. 



Mr. Jefferson remarks that " it has been said that the [North American] Indians have 

 less hair than the whites, except on the head ; but this is a fact of which fair proof can 

 hardly be had. With them it is disgraceful to have hairs on the body, they say it likens 

 themjto hogs; they therefore pluck it out as fast as it appears. But the traders who marry 

 their women, and prevail on them to discontinue this practice, say, that nature is the same 

 with them as with the whites. Nor if the fact [assertion] be true, is the consequence 

 necessary which has been drawn from it; negroes have notoriously less hair than the 

 whites, yet they are more ardent." 



In many African kingdoms, rank is estimated by the length and thickness of the beard. 

 (Duncan's Travels in Western Africa, 2 v., p. 5.) The Miaou-tse, who are supposed to 

 be the aborigines of China, cut off the forelocks and spread the hair behind. (Latham.) 

 Some Tapuans, of the New Guinea Coast, dress their pile in long, narrow, pipe-like curls, 

 smeared with red ochre and grease, with a band round the forehead. (Latham Hist, of 

 Races, &c., 214.) Others use wigs. (Ibid, 215.) 



7. Of the Hairs of the Arm-pit, (axilla,) and its Button. This cavity, beneath the 

 8 



