114 PHYSICAL INVESTIGATION. [PART I. 



many innate deformities in Polynesia. New Zealand, however, 

 seems to form an exception. 1 In North America, also more 

 rarely in Brazil, cripples were in modern times found in greater 

 numbers. 2 The natives there are said to be now more subject 

 to diseases than formerly. 3 It seems, therefore, that the 

 sanitary condition of savage nations has deteriorated by their 

 intercourse with civilized nations, partly in consequence of new 

 diseases, and partly from changes in dress and mode of life 

 which they gradually adopted, especially where missionaries 

 effected such a transformation of their habits. 



The signs of age generally, though not always, present them- 

 selves later among savage than among the civilized nations. 

 As deficient protection against the influence of climate and hard 

 work depress the body, we cannot wonder that, for instance, 

 the North- American Indians look old at 40, and their women, 

 who perform most of the labour, present the look of old age 

 even at an earlier period. 4 Similar instances are found among 

 all races. 



But it says much for their vital energy, that grey hair and bald- 

 ness, though they occur, appear but rarely, and only in old 

 age. 5 The teeth also remain sound until old age ; they become 

 worn, but rarely carious. Thus it is among the aboriginal 

 Americans, among the New Zealanders, and other Polynesians 6 

 and among the Bushmen. 7 Teething does not seem to torment 

 the children. Marco Polo wondered at the enduring power 

 possessed by the Tartars in sustaining bodily labour. Similar 

 descriptions have been given of the aboriginal North Americans, 

 who in their hunting and war expeditions support hunger, 

 thirst, heat, cold, and wet, and the most fatiguing marches, 

 with unexampled endurance. To this must be added continuous 

 fasting, and, among some peoples, self-inflicted pain from reli- 



1 Polack, " New Zealand/' ii, 273, 1838. 



2 " Prince Max. E. in N. Am./' i, 461 ; James, ii, p. 112. 



3 Hekewelder, "Nachr. v. d. Gesch. d. Sitten der ind. Volkersch.," p. 388, 1821. 



4 West, " Substance of a journal of a resid. at the Red R. Col.," p. 112, 1824. 



5 Keating, i, p. 156; D'Orbigny, i, p. 128; Gilii, 247; Tschudi, ii, p. 361. 



6 D'UrviUe, loc. cit. 



7 Burchell, ii, p. 221. 



