332 DIFFERENCES OF THE TEETH. 



edges *, or notch them f; some even grind them away, 

 down to the gums %. 



A more or less complete abrasion of the enamel is very 

 common among the Asiatic islanders §. 



The observations in the following chapter respecting the 

 varieties of form in general, include the subjects of na- 

 tional features and form of the skull. I shall only make a 

 few remarks here on some attempts at explaining the latter 

 subjects. 



Climate has generally been brought forwards as the cause 

 of the varieties that distinguish man. It has been almost 

 universally represented as the source of difterences in colour, 

 and not much less depended on for solving the great pro- 

 blem of varieties of form. " The enquiry into the causes 

 of difference of features is exposed," says Blumenbach, 

 " to such serious difficulties, that we can only expect to ar- 

 rive at a probable solution." 



" That climate is the principal agent in producing diffe- 

 rence of features, is proved to my satisfaction by three 

 arguments. 



*' 1. In the natives of certain regions, a national coun- 

 tenance is so common and universal in persons of all con 

 ditions, that it can be referred to no other cause. The 

 Chinese may serve as an example ; the characteristic flattened 

 countenance being as general among them, as great sym- 

 metry and beauty are among the English and Majorcans. 



" 2. Unless I am greatly deceived, there are instances of 

 people who, after leaving their old abodes, have in progress 

 of time assumed new features, corresponding to their new 

 situations. Thus the Yakuts are referred, by those who 



» Tuckey's Narrative of a Voyage to th Congo, pp. SO, 124. 



+ Jbid. p. 210. 



+ Vancouver found in the natives of Trinidad Bay, on the north-west 

 coast of America, " that all tlie teeth of both sexes were, by some process, 

 ground uniformly down horizontally to the gums." v. ii. p. 247. It was 

 also observed by Perouse, Voyage round the World, v, ii. p. 13S. 



^ In Magindanao; Forrest, Voyage to New Guinea, p. 23T ; in Celebes ; 

 Blumenbach, dec. 5. t ib. 49 ; in Java, Hawkeswortii, v. lii. p. 349, 

 Blumenbach de G. II. Var. Nat. p 231. 



