

74 PHYSICAL INVESTIGATION. [PART I. 



Similar instances of a greater or less metamorphosis of the 

 physical type by altered conditions of civilization, occur also 

 among us ; only that in many of such cases it cannot be shown 

 with certainty how far intermixture between several peoples 

 has occasioned it ; and this uncertainty becomes greater, inas- 

 much as the variations in civilization occur in consequence of 

 the intercourse of these peoples. 



If we were in possession of exact representations of the 

 physical aspect of individuals of the same people at different 

 periods, we might, by comparison, infer how far the external 

 characters of a people correspond to the progress or retardation 

 of its intellectual culture. De Salles remarks very justly, that 

 all uncultured nations possess, in comparison with civilized 

 nations, a large mouth and somewhat thick lips. Zimmer- 

 mann 1 has directed attention to the great differences between 

 the ancient and modern Germans, and endeavoured to explain 

 them from changes of the climate and mode of life ; but their 

 spiritual culture must also have greatly contributed to the 

 physical changes. The high stature, the light or red hair, the 

 blue eyes, and the clear complexion which they possessed at 

 the time of the Romans, have not, it is true, been lost by them, i 

 but have become less general. We find in Jarrold 2 the analo- 

 gous assertion, that in the time of Henry VIII, red hair pre- 1 

 dominated in England, and that at the commencement of the * 

 fifteenth century, grey eyes were more general, and dark eyes ' 

 and hair unfrequent. He also mentions, that the cheek bones 

 of the English were then more prominent, as they are at pre- 

 sent towards the north. This reminds us of the strong features 

 presented by the old German painters, showing that our own I 

 physiognomy has not always been the same. More refined 

 manners, mental emotions, and a diminished firmness of cha- '\ 

 racter appear to have softened the rigid, hard, and angular 

 features. 



As a further proof of the influence of intellectual culture on 

 physical form, may be quoted the instance of the Sikhs, a re- 

 ligious sect, formed in 1469 by Kanaka, and which has since 



1 " Geogr. gesch. des Menschen," i, p. 54, 1778. 



2 Loc. cit., pp. 155, 216. 



