DlFFEllKNCES OF STATURE. 377 



Falkner, who lived some time in the country, describes 

 the Cacique Cangapol as 7 feet some inclies high. When 

 standing on tip-toe, he couhl not reach to the top of his head. 

 He did not recollect ever to have seen an Indian above an 

 inch or two taller than Cangapol *. 



The stature of the Patagonians was measured with great 

 accuracy by the Spanish officers in 1785 and 6 : they found 

 the common height to be 6^ to 7 feet; and the highest was 

 7 feet H i»ch f. 



Falkner says that this tribe, which he calls Puelches, 

 live inland. When we consider this fact, and that their 

 habits are wandering, we shall not be surprised that some 

 of those who have visited the coast have not met with 

 them ; but have found, instead of the tall Patagonians, 

 Americans of ordinary stature belonging to other neigh- 

 bouring tribes. 



After surveying the tall and muscular frames of the Pata- 

 gonians, Caribbees, Cherokees, and many other American 

 tribes, what shall we think of the notion brought forward and 

 defended by many learned men, including even a Buffon 

 and a Robertson, that the New World is unfavourable to the 

 formation and full developement of animal existence ? The 

 former writer asserts, that the animals common to the Old 

 and New World are smaller in the latter; that those peculiar 

 to the New are all on a smaller scale ; that those which have 

 been domesticated in both, have degenerated in America ; 

 and that, on the whole, it exhibits fewer species. He ex- 

 tends the same kind ©f assertion and reasoning to the hu- 

 man species, which he describes as dwarfish, puny, and 

 weak in body, and destitute of all mental vigour, capacity, 

 and talent J. All these representations are fully and clearly 

 refuted by Mr. Jefferson §, who has displayed as much 



though there were some who came to 6 feet 7 inches, but none above that." 

 " Altogether, they are the finest set of men I ever saw any where," p. 22, 23- 



* Description of Patagonia. 



+ Viaje al Estrecho de MagalhAens ; Madrid, 1788, 4to. pp. 325 et seq, 



I Ilistoire Naturelle.t. 18. p. 100— '56. 



k N'uteson Virginia, p. 72—94. 



