AUSTRALIAN RACE. 



Native of Australia Felix. 



An Australian. 



Dr. Pickering says : " The Australian may be characterised in general terms, as having the com- 

 plexion and features of the Negro, with hair in the place of wool. 



'• On closer examination, however, other points of diversity are remarked ; and I think it will be very 

 generally found that the forehead does not recede as in the Negro, an unusually deep-sunken eye giving it 

 rather the appearance of projecting. The eye, at the same time, though uniformly small, is uncommonly 

 piercing. With regard to other races somewhat approximating in personal appearance, the genuine hair 

 will at all times distinguish the Australian. 



" About thirty Australians came under my own observation, who neither had the lips so uniformly thick, 

 nor the nose so much depressed, as in the Negro; but in certain instances both nose and mouth were 

 wider. Some individuals were of surpassing ugliness ; while others, contrary to all anticipation, had the 

 face decidedly fine ; and several of the young women had a very pleasing expression of countenance. The 

 general form, though sometimes defective, seemed on the average, better than that of the Negro ; and I 

 did not find the undue slenderness of limb which has been commonly attributed to the Australians. Strange 

 as it may appear, I would refer to an Australian as the finest model of the human proportions I have ever 

 met with ; in muscular development combining perfect symmetry, activity, and strength ; while his head 

 might have compared with an antique bust of a philosopher. 



"The Australian complexion appeared to me full as dark as that of the Negro; but I did not institute 

 a critical comparison, neither did I see the two races in company. The hair seemed rather coarse, and 

 instead of being perfectly straight was usually undulating, or even curling in ringlets. The head was by 

 no means deficient, though less abundant than in the Fejeean. 



" For characteristic representations of Australians, I am hardly willing to refer to any except those in 

 Mitchell's Tour, and the portraits taken by Mr. Agate ; among which latter I have been most pleased with 

 that of Bamboro-kain. The colored figures in the French Voyages are deficient in that depth of hue which 

 i''once arrests attention in the Australians." 



(17) 2 * 



