236 



BIMANA. 



as with the natives of Greece, or the Eastern Empire, would soon 

 eradicate the impress of such an origin, if it existed. That the ame- 

 lioration of their features, as compared with those of the nomadic 

 Turkomans, is thus to be accounted for, there can be but little doubt. 

 The latter, generally supposed to be of the race, if not of the tribe of 

 the Ottomans, are a wild and wandering people, inhabiting the borders 

 of the Caspian, and distinguished by a tall, athletic figure, a flat nose, 

 square face, and swarthy complexion. 



The preceding figure (189) gives a good idea of the physiognomy of 

 the modern Ottoman. The forehead is straight, and does not advance 

 so boldly as in the Greek, yet it is well formed ; the brow and the 

 interorbital space, or glabella, above the root of the nose, is prominent ; 

 the nose is long and aquiline, not elevated as in the Roman, but falling 

 more decidedly in a line with the forehead. The eyes are remote from 

 each other, and large, and the inner and outer angles are on the same 

 level ; the upper lip is short, the chin full, but the distance of the chin 

 from the angle of the lower jaw is very inconsiderable : the face, viewed 

 in front, is long, and becomes narrow below the malar bones, which are 

 moderately salient ; viewed in profile, the line passing the nose, from the 

 forehead to the chin, is vertical, the facial angle being 90, or nearly so. 

 The beard, which is scanty in the Mongole, is full and flowing. The 

 whole style of the countenance, indeed, is Japetic, but it is neither of 

 Greek nor Roman mould : the expression of the physiognomy is grave 

 and dignified. 



The skull of the Turk (fig. 190) is remarkable for its globular con- 

 tour, and the situation of the foramen mag- 

 num, near the posterior part of the basis 

 cranii ; the forehead is broad, the glabella 

 prominent ; the posterior part of the head 

 is high, and expanded ; the alveolar portion 

 of the upper jaw is abbreviated, and the 

 basis of the lower jaw is remarkable for 

 its shortness ; the general proportions of 

 the face are symmetrical, and the facial 

 line is nearly vertical. The globular form 

 of the Turkish skull has been attributed to 

 artificial pressure in infancy, in order that 

 skuii of Turk. *^ e tur ban, usually worn, might be more 



accurately fitted to the head. For this 

 opinion, however, there appears to be no good foundation. 



It may here be observed that the precise distinction between the 

 nomadic tribes which occupied the central deserts of Asia, especially in 

 remote periods, is almost impossible to be ascertained ; nor much less so, 



190 



