DIFFERENCES IN THE EXTERNAL SENSES, 401 



heightened by exercise to a degree ahnost incredible. In 

 the unsettled life of wandering tribes, the chief occupations 

 are, hunting, war, and plunder. The members of tbe com- 

 munity are trained from their earliest infancy to these pur- 

 suits; and their progress in the necessary accomplishments 

 determines not only tbe degree of their own personal enjoy- 

 ment and security, but also their influence over others, and 

 their rank in the association. The astonishing perfection 

 of their sight, hearing, and smelling, must be referred, I 

 apprehend, to the constant exercise of the organs ; as their 

 capability of enduring violent or continued exertion, in per- 

 forming long journeys, is the simple result of habit. Both 

 are very interesting in a physiological view; and acquaint us 

 with the extent of our powers, which are very imperfectly 

 developed in the members of civilized societies. 



Mr. Collins * has mentioned the quick-sightedness of 

 the New Hollanders ; and another traveller has borne tes- 

 timony to the same effect. " The quickness of their eye 

 and ear is equally singular: they can. hear and distinguish 

 objects which would totally escape an European. This cir- 

 cumstance renders them very acceptable guides to our sports- 

 men in the woods, as they never fail to point out the game 

 before any European can discover it f." 



In describing a New Zealander, who accompanied him 

 to England, Mr. Savage says, " It was worthy of remark 

 how much his sight and hearing were superior to other 

 persons on board the ship : the sound of a distant gun was 

 distinctly heard, or a strange sail readily discernible, by Moy- 

 HANGER, when no other man on board could hear or per- 

 ceive them X," 



We learn from Mr. Barrow, that the Hottentots, " by the 

 quickness of their eye, will discover deer and other sorts of 

 game when very far distant ; and they are equally expert in 

 watching a bee to its nest. They no sooner hear the hum- 



* Account of the English Colony of IV. S. Wales ; pp. 553, 584. 

 f TuRNBiJLL, Voyage round the World ; 2d edition, p. 92. 

 + Some Account of New Zealand ; p. 101. 



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