186 NATURAL HISTORY OF 



They have been often and long cannibals, the earliest pos- 

 sessors of horses ; and hence doubly meriting the Chinese name 

 of horse-faced; because, in addition to the first possession of 

 the animal, all the lofty tribes of mankind have elongated 

 features.* 



TIIE DWARFS. 



The races below a middle stature, frequently sinking to the 

 form of Dwarfs, though seldom noticed but in conjunction with 

 Giant tribes, are nevertheless much more numerous, more 



* In the list among the giant tribes of Syria alone, we find so many, 

 that it is evident the y were mere families, ruling, most likely, by con- 

 quest, over Canaan it ish trilics ■ — Nephilim, Rephaim, Zuzim, Gihhorim, 

 Enakim, Zamzumim — some being distinguished by a malformation, 

 having six fingers and six toes on the hands and feet ; of which there is 

 a counterpart in the legends of India. Of the stature individuals may 

 have attained, are the examples of Teutobochus, king of the Cymbers, 

 whose head overtopped the spears, bearing trophies, in the triumph of 

 Marius. The Emperor Maximinus exceeded eight feet ; Gabarus, an Ara- 

 bian, in the time of Claudius, was nine feet nine inches high ; he was 

 shown at Rome. In the reign of Augustus, Pusio and Secondilla were 

 ten feet three inches in height ; their bodies were preserved and shown 

 in the Sallustian Gardens. The Emperor Andronicus was ten feet high, 

 according to Nicetas. Herodes Hercules was eight feet. Porus, six feet 

 nine inches. Charlemagne, seven feet. George Castriot, or Skanderbeg, 

 and George Freunsberg, nearly eight feet. Without, therefore, vouching 

 for the exact measurements here given, we have still sufficient evidence 

 to show, that, even in recent times, men of high stature, and of immense 

 strength, have been historically conspicuous. The last trace, in Great 

 Britain, of the Giant character, may be perceived in the Broincch of the 

 Hebrides, where they are called Gruagaichs, (Gruage feachd,) a hairy 

 bandit, concealed in the glens, and coming forth at night to plunder. 

 During the operation of the Berlin and Milan decrees, we have personally 

 known, in London, a Moor, usually named Gibraltar, captain of a neutral 

 merchant ship, who was visible, at a great distance, in the Strand, head, 

 breast and shoulders above the hats of the passing crowd, for he meas- 

 ured six feet seven inches and a quarter, and was, in all respects, of the 

 finest proportions, and of very considerable acquirements in languages, 

 &c. 



