SKCT. I.] ALIMENT. 59 



g^ulf of Carpentaria, have fish in abundance, and are not so 

 imid as the former, being more inclined to trade. 1 The 

 iborigines of Australia Felix are physically and intellectually 

 superior to those of New South Wales. 2 Though it has hitherto 

 lot been doubted that the peoples of Australia are all of the 

 -umo stock, there are great differences found among them, 

 A hi eh must chiefly have been produced by food and mode of 

 ifo. The disproportionately long arms and legs of the natives 

 of New South Wales are not general ; in the north-west tall 

 nuscular men are found. 3 There exist, especially on the Dari- 

 ng, great differences in features and colour. 4 Among some 

 :he hair is straight, among others curly or woolly. 5 Besides the 

 commonly small forehead, there are observed in the west and 

 ho interior, receding foreheads. 6 In the region of Port 

 -Stephens foreheads of European shape are sometimes seen. 7 

 Similar differences are observed with regard to the shape of 

 :he nose. 



. It has been asserted that a nation feeding much on animal 

 bod is more vigorous, and bolder, more passionate and less 

 docile, and becomes physically and mentally better developed 

 Imn by a vegetable diet. This general assertion has been 

 -efuted by Foissac, 8 and it must not be forgotten, that the 

 orimary condition of bodily and mental health is not merely 

 ;he nutritious quality of aliments, but their suitableness to the 

 wants of the organism, which depends partly on the climate, 

 .f for the preservation of the same physical force in winter, 

 und in cold climates, a rich substantial animal diet is requisite, 

 he inhabitants of the torrid zone preserve the same force with 

 it small quantity of vegetable food. Even the workman in 

 3enguela is satisfied with a handful of Maniok meal; 9 the 



1 Leichardt, p. 250. 



2 Byrne, " Twelve Years Wanderings in the British Colonies," i, 365, 1848. 



3 Grey, "Journal of Two Expeditions in Australia," i, p. 232, 1841. 



4 Mitchell, " Exped. into the Interior of Eastern Australia," i, p. 211, 1838. 



5 Hale, Wilkes, Hodgson, Dampier, " Nouv. voy. autour du m. 1701," ii, 

 .). 141. 



6 Stokes, " Discoveries in Australia," i, p. 89, 1846 ; Sturt, " Narr. of an 

 Sxped. into Central Aust.," ii, p. 135, 1849 



7 Dawson, " The Present State of Australia," p. 339, 1830. 



8 " Ueber den Einfl. des Klimas," p. 197, 1840. 



Tunis, " Die Portugies. Besitzungen in Siidwest Air.," p. 36, 1845. 



