274 VARIETIES OF THE HAIR, BEARD, 



There is some contradiction in the reports of travellers 

 concerning the native North Americans : it is, however, 

 easily explained on the probable supposition that the pro- 

 portion of the beard varies in different tribes. 



Mr. Hearne observed, of those whom he saw on his 

 journey to the Coj)per-Mine River, that " few of the men 

 have any beard : this seldom makes its appearance till they 

 are arrived at middle age ; and then in by no means equal 

 quantity to what is observed in the generality of Europeans : 

 the little they have, however, is exceedingly strong and 

 bristly.'* He mentions the practice of eradication ; and 

 adds, that " neither sex have any hair under their arm-pits, 

 and very little on any other part of their body, particularly 

 the women *.'* 



Mr. Mackenzie states that the Knisteneaux " very ge- 

 nerally extract their beards ; and both sexes manifest a dis- 

 position to pluck the hair from every part of their body and 

 limbs f." Among the Chepewyans, " the men in general 

 extract their beards ; but some are seen to prefer a bushy 

 black beard to a smooth chin J.'* 



Respecting the Canadian Indians and the adjoining tribes 



Nuovo, 1557, p. 15. Bembo, Hist. Venet. Ibbl. p. S6.) "The Patago- 

 nians and Guaranies in South America have beards. When the Chajmas, 

 instead of extracting the little hair they have on the sicin, shave themselves 

 frequently, their beard grows. I have seen this experiment tried with suc- 

 cess by young Indians, who served at mass, and who anxiously wished to re- 

 semble the Capuchin fathers, their missionaries and instructors. Most of the 

 people, however, have as great an antipathy to the beard as the Eastern na. 

 lions have veneration for it. This antipathy is derived from the same source 

 as the predilection for flat foreheads, which is seen in so singular a manner in 

 the statue of the Azteck heroes and divinities. Nations attach the idea of 

 beauty to every thing which particularly characterizes their own physical 

 conformation, tiieir natural physiognomy. Hence it results, that if nature 

 have bestowed very little beard, a narrow forehead, or a brownish red skin, 

 every individual thinks himself beautiful, in proportion as his body is desti- 

 tute of hairs, his head flattened, and his skin covered with annotto or chica, 

 or some other coppery red colour." Personal Narrative j ii. 23T. 



* Journey, eh. 9. p. 305. 



f Voyages, ^'c. p. 92. 



tmd.p. 120. 



