632 THE RED MEN OF AMERICA. 



appear awkward, unwieldy, and sunburnt peasants compared with 

 the exquisitely elegant daughters of Noukahiva. 



"The Kanaks talk but little. Frequently they convey their 

 thoughts to one another by a play of the physiognomy which Euro- 

 peans find it difficult to seize. Seated face to face, the back sup- 

 ported against a stone, the arms crossed beneath the head, they 

 regard each other for whole hours without exchanging a single word. 

 In direct contrast to the negro, they are very sparing both in words 

 and gestures, when even their dearest interests are involved. Slow, 

 indolent, averse to labour, not knowing how to submit themselves to 

 any regular work, they pass the greatest part of their time stretched 

 in the shadow of the trees on their mats, sleeping, singing, or weaving 

 garlands. And yet, though they are sensual, gluttonous, and care- 

 less of the morrow, they are gifted with a quick wit, a sound judg- 

 ment, and a veiy accurate conception of right and justice." 



We do not remark among the numerous tribes scattered over the 

 immense territory of the two American continents, and vaguely com- 

 prehended under the denomination of the Red or American race, 

 differences less profound or characteristic than among the different 

 fractions of the Negro or Malayo-Polynesian race. Just as, in speak- 

 ing of the New World, we formerly made use of the expression " the 

 West Indies," or the "Great Indies," we also call by the term 

 " Indians " all the aboriginal peoples of this portion of the globe, and 

 the use of this term, incorrect as it is, writers as well as readers seem 

 indisposed to surrender. In fact, it possesses the twofold advantage 

 of being short, and of not attributing to the peoples which it desig- 

 nates an unity of origin which is doubtful, or a similitude of colour 

 which does not exist. 



" From the North Pole even to Tierra del Fuego," says Maury, 

 " there is scarcely a shade of human colouring which is not mani- 

 fested, from the black to the yellow. The aborigines, according to 

 their nation, are of a brown-olive, a dark brown, bronze, pale yellow, 

 copper yellow, red, white, brown, &c. Their stature does not vary 



