168 SUPPLEMENTAL HISTORY OP MAN. 



The same slenderness of trunk is observable in the 

 Hindoos, and is accompanied with length of limb. 

 The South Sea Islanders are generally remarkable 

 for strength, stature, and symmetry of form. The 

 natives of New Holland and Van Diemens Land, are 

 of small size, with long and slender limbs. Their 

 diminutiveness and mal-conformation have been con- 

 jectured to be owing, in a great measure, to the 

 bad quality and deficient quantity of their food — but 

 probably without foundation. The lower arm is 

 generally longer in Negroes, in proportion to the 

 upper arm, and to the height of the body than in 

 Europeans. The Hindoos are remarkable for long 

 legs, and the Mongolian nations for short ones, in 

 comparison with Europeans. 



We may observe that the bones of the leg, in 

 Negroes, are pushed outwards, under the femoral 

 condyles, so that they seem more distant from 

 each other than with us, and the feet are turned 

 outwards; the tibia and fibula are also particularly 

 convex; the calves of the legs are high, and the 

 feet and hands fiat. The os calcis is nearly in a 

 straight line with the other bones of the foot instead 

 of being arched, and the foot in general is remark- 

 ably broad ; the fingers and toes are very long and 

 flexible. 



Smallness of hands and feet seem peculiar to 

 some races, as the Hindoos and Chinese, the. Esqui- 

 maux, and many of the American tribes, fyc. 



Artificial changes of form produced in individuals, 

 and fabulous varieties mentioned by some writers, 

 we deem it unnecessary to notice. 



