304 



CHARACTER OP TliK INDIANS. 



Physical 

 diameter of 

 the Indians. 



CHAP.XXIV. indigenous inhabitants of America forms a very striking 

 contrast witli the small number used in Asia and 

 Europe. The Aztec or Mexican is the most widely 

 distributed. 



The Indians of New Spain bear a general resemblance 

 to those of Florida, Canada, Peru, and Brazil. They 

 have the same dingy copper colour, straight and smooth 

 hair, deficient beard, squat body, elongated and oblique 

 eyes, prominent cheek-bones, and thick lips. But 

 although the American tribes have thus a certain uni- 

 formity of character, they differ as much from each 

 other as the numerous varieties of the European or 

 Caucasian race. Those who live in this province have 

 a more swarthy complexion than the inhabitants of the 

 warmest parts of the South. They have also a much 

 more abundant beard than the other tribes, and in the 

 neighbourhood of the capital they even wear small 

 moustaches. Pursuing a quiet and indolent life, and 

 accustomed to uniform nourishment of a vegetable 

 nature, they would no doubt attain a very great longe- 

 vity were they not extremely addicted to drunkenness. 

 Moral degra- -Th^^y exist in a state of great moral degradation, being 

 tu.tioii. entirely destitute of religion, although they have ex- 



changed their original rites for those of Catholicism. 

 The men are grave, melancholic, and taciturn ; forming 

 a striking contrast to the negroes, who for this reason 

 are preferred by the In<lian women. Long liabituated 

 to slavery, they patiently suffer the privations to which 

 they are frequently subjected ; opposing to them only a 

 degree of cunning, veiled under the appearance of 

 aj)athy and stupidity. Although destitute of imagin- 

 Aoquirement ation, tliey are remarkable for the facility with which 

 oriiuiguagcs. they acquire a knowledge of languages; and, notwith- 

 standing tlieir usual taciturnity, they become loquacious 

 and eloquent wlien excited by important occurrences. 

 It is unnecessary to speak of the negroes, of whom there 

 are very few in Mexico, their character being the same 

 as m other countries where slavery is permitted. 



No city of the New Continent, not even excepting 



