SUPPLEMENTAL HISTORY OF MAN. 189 



ticular occasions of combat or ceremony with co- 

 loured clay, in addition to the more permanent 

 ornaments of scars or seams, the result of self- 

 inflicted wounds. The males, on attaining the age 

 of mankind, have one of the upper incisor teeth 

 punched out, an operation performed on large num- 

 bers at a time and with the most ridiculous cere- 

 monies. The women have the little finger of the 

 right hand also mutilated by amputation of the two 

 first phalanges. 



Their senses in general, in common with all sa- 

 vages, are very acute ; that of sight in particular has 

 been observed with admiration by all Europeans 

 who visit them. Parturition is also comparatively 

 easy among their women, who are generally enabled 

 in a few hours after to pursue their ordinary occu- 

 pations. 



The colour of the natives in question is observed 

 to vary, though the more than ordinary filth of some 

 individuals among them may impart an unnatural 

 blackness to the skin ; generally the tint of the skin 

 is that of copper when sufficiently cleansed to show 

 it. Their hair is either curling or straight, not 

 woolly like that of the negro. In a few it has been 

 observed to have a reddish cast. 



In disposition, these savages evince the qualities 

 of general good-nature, but occasional deadly re- 

 venge, inflexible courage in bodily suffering, jea- 

 lousy, idleness, independence, and cunning: to their 

 previous bad qualities must also unhappily be added 



