SEXUAL SELECTION 'iN RELATION TO MAN- 743 



these practices, followed by t many distinct nations, should 

 be due to tradition from any common source. They indi- 

 cate the close similarity of the mind of man, to whatever 

 race he may belong, just as do the almost universal habits 

 of dancing, masquerading, and making rude pictures. 



Having made these preliminary remarks on the admira- 

 tion felt by savages for various ornaments, and for deformi- 

 ties most unsightly in our eyes, let us see how far the men 

 are attracted by the appearance of their women, and what 

 are their ideas of beauty. I have heard it maiatained that 

 savages are quite indifferent about the beauty of their 

 women, valuing them solely as slaves; it may therefore 

 be well to observe that this conclusion does not at all 

 agree with the care which the women take in ornament- 

 ing themselves, or with their vanity. Burchell" gives aa 

 amusing account of a Bushwoman who used as much grease, 

 red ochre, and shining powder "as would have ruined any 

 but a very rich husband." She displayed also "much van- 

 ity and too evident a consciousness of her superiority." 

 Mr. Winwood Eeade informs me that the negroes of the 

 West Coast often discuss the beauty of their women. Some 

 competent observers have attributed the fearfully common 

 practice of infanticide partly to the desire felt by the women 

 to retain their good looks.'* In several regions the women 

 wear charms and use love philters to gain the affections of 

 the men; and Mr. Brown enumerates four plants used for 

 this purpose by the women of Northwestern America." 



Hearne," an excellent observer, who lived many years 

 with the American Indians, says, in speaking of the women, 

 "Ask a Northern Indian what is beauty, and he will answer: 

 A broad, flat face; small eyes, high cheek-bones, three or 



»» "Travels in S. Africa," 1824, vol. i. p. 414. 



" See, for references, Garland, "Ueber das Aussterben der Naturvolker," 

 1868, s. 51, 53, 55; also Azara, "Voyages," etc., torn. ii. p. 116. 



5s On the vegetable productions used by the Northwestern American Indiana, 

 "Pharmaceutical Journal," vol. x. 



» "A Journey from Prince of Wales Fort," 8vo, edit. 1196, p. 89. 



