DIFFERENCES OF FEATURES. 283 



that the variety among individuals is certainly not less, but 

 greater, than the differenee between some of them and 

 many Europeans *. 



The same observations hold good of the American race. 

 The most accurate observers treat with contempt the hyper- 

 bolical assertion of some, that all the inhabitants of the New 

 World have one and the same countenance, so that he who 

 has seen one may say that he has seen all. 



" I cannot help smiling," says Molina, " when I read in 

 certain modern authors, and those too accounted diligent 

 observers, that all the Americans have one cast of counte- 

 nance ; and that when you have seen one you know the 

 whole. These writers have been too much influenced by 

 the deceptive appearances of resemblance, consisting chiefly 

 in colour, which immediately disappear when we confront 

 individuals of two nations. The difference between an in- 

 habitant of Chili and a Peruvian is not less than between an 

 Italian and a German. 1 have found the Indians of Para- 

 guay, of the Straits of Magellan, and of other parts, most 

 obviously and strikingly distinguished from each other by 

 peculiar lineaments f." 



We have further unexceptionable testimony to prove that 

 the same variety of countenance is found in the Americans 

 as in other races ; although it generally follows the model 

 above described. In South America only we have the 

 Caaiguas with flat noses, observed by Nic. del Techo ; 

 the neighbouring Abipons, of whom many individuals have 

 aquiline noses, by Martin Dobrizhoffer ; the Peruvians 

 with narrow and aquiline noses, by Ulloa °, the Chilese 

 with rather a broad nose, by Molina ; and the Islanders of 

 Tierra del Fuego, with a very depressed one, by G. Forster. 

 The truth of this representation is most fully attested by 

 Humboldt, whose accuracy and extensive opportunities 

 entitle his observations to the most implicit deference. In 

 the faithful portrait which an excellent observer, Mr. Vol- 

 ney, has drawn of the Canada Indians, we undoubtedly 



— r; -^ ■ 



* Dccas Craniarum, p. 22 ; Decas altera^ p. 13. 



+ Sforia Naturale del Chili, p. 336. English Tiun?lation, 274-5. 



