CAUCASIAN VARIETY. 289 



as the model of a female head ; and is certainly fey- prefer- 

 able in this point of view, to that of 



*' The bending statue which enchants the world." 



Gall and Spurzheim judiciously observed, tliat the head 

 of the Venus was too small for an intellectual being; and 

 that the goddess of love was thus represented as an ideot. 

 In this Georgian head, the physical and moral attributes 

 are well combined ; the personal charms, which enchant the 

 senses, are joined to those rational endowments which com- 

 mand esteem and respect, and satisfy the judgment. 



The form of this head is of such distinguished elegance 

 that it attracts the attention of all who visit the collection in 

 which it is contained. The vertical and frontal regions form 

 a large and smooth convexity, which is a little flattened at 

 the temples : the forehead is high and broad, and carried 

 forwards perpendicularly over the face. The cheek-bones 

 are small, descending from the outer side of the orbit, and 

 gently turned back. The superciliary ridges run together 

 at the root of the nose, and are smoothly continued into the 

 bridge of that organ, which forms an elegant and finely- 

 turned arch. The alveolar processes are softly rounded, 

 and the chin is full and prominent. In the whole structure 

 there is nothing rough or harsh ; nothing disagreeably pro- 

 jecting. Hence it occupies a middle place between the two 

 opposite extremes of the Mongolian variety, in which the 

 face is flattened, and expanded laterally ; and the Ethiopian, 

 in which the forehead is contracted, and the jaws also are 

 narrow and elongated anteriorly. 



Blumenbach observes, that the form of this head cor- 

 responds exactly to that of the marble statue of a nymph in 

 the collection of the late Mr. Townley, of which he posses- 

 ses a plaster cast. It tends also to confirm the testimony of 

 the numerous travellers who have unanimously concurred in 

 extolling the beauty of the inhabitants of Georgia and the 

 neighbouring countries. The expressions of Chardin are 

 so warm and animated, that I subjoin the original passage. 

 " Le sang de Georgie est le plus beau de Torient, et je puis 



ij 



