322 HISTORY OF 



the face like joy, and pride assumes the air of passion. Jt 

 would be vain, therefore, in words, to express their general 

 eifeet, since they are often as various as the countenances they 

 sit upon ; and in making this distinction nicely, lies all the skill 

 of the physiognomist. In being able to distinguish what part 

 of the face is marked by nature, and what by the mind ; what 

 part has been originally formed, and what is made by habit ; con- 

 stitutes this science, upon which the ancients so much valued 

 themselves, and which we at present so little regard. Some, 

 however, of the most acute men among us have paid great atten- 

 tion to this art ; and by long practice, have been able to give some 

 character of every person whose face they examined. Montaigne 

 is well known to have disliked those men who shut one eye in 

 looking upon any object ; and Fielding asserts that he never 

 knew a person with a steady glavering smile, but he found him 

 a rogue. However, most of these observations, tending to a dis- 

 covery of the mind by the face, are merely capricious ; and Na- 

 ture has kindly hid our hearts from each other, to keep us in 

 good humour with our fellow-creatures." 



The parts of the head which give the least expression to 

 the face, are the ears : and they are generally found hidden un- 

 der the hair. These, which are immovable, and make so small 

 an appearance in man, are very distinguishing features in quadru- 

 peds. These serve in them as the principal marks of the passions ; 

 the ears discover their joys or their terrors, with tolerable pre- 

 cision ; and denote all their internal agitations. The smallest 

 ears in men, are said to be the most beautiful ; but the largest are 

 found to be the best for hearing. There are some savage na- 

 tions who bore their ears, and so draw that part down, that the 

 tips of the ears are seen to rest upon their shoulders. 



The strange variety in the different customs of men appears 

 still more extravagant in their manner of wearing their beards. 

 Some, and among others the Turks, cut the hair off their heads, 

 and let their beards grow. The Europeans on the contrary, 

 shave their beards and wear their hair. The negroes shave their 

 neads in figures at one time, in stars at another, in the manner 

 of friars; and still more commonly in alternate stripes; and 

 their little boys are shaved in the same manner. The Talapoins, 

 of Siam, shave the heads and the eye-brows of such children as 

 are committed to their care. Every nation seems to have en- 



