1844] Queries respecting the Human Race. 925 



20. What is the practice as to dressing and cradling children, and 

 are there any circumstances connected with it calculated to modify 

 their form ; for example, to compress the forehead, as amongst the 

 western Americans; to flatten the occiput, as amongst most Ame- 

 ricans, by the flat straight board to which the child is attached ; to 

 occasion the lateral distortion of the head, by allowing it to remain 

 too long in one position on the hand of the nurse, as amongst the 

 inhabitants of the South Seas ? 



21. Are there any methods adopted, by which other parts of the 

 body may be affected, such as the turning in of the toes, as amongst 

 the North Americans; the modification of the whole foot, as amongst 

 the Chinese? 



22. How are the children educated, what are they taught, and are 

 any methods adopted to modify their character, such as to implant 

 courage, impatience of control, endurance of pain and privation, or, on 

 the contrary, submission, and to what authorities, cowardice, artifice. 



23. Is there any thing remarkable amongst the sports and amuse- 

 ments of children, or in their infantile songs or tales ? 



24. At what age does puberty take place? 



25. What is the ordinary size of families, and are there any large 

 ones? 



26. Are births of more than one child common ? What is the pro- 

 portion of the sexes at birth and among adults ? 



27. Are the children easily reared ? 



28. Is there any remarkable deficiency or perfection in any of the 

 senses? It is stated, that in some races sight is remarkably keen, 

 both for near and distant objects. 



29. To what age do the females continue to bear children? and for 

 what period are they in the habit of suckling them ? 



30. What is the menstrual period, and what the time of utero- 

 gestation ? 



31. Are there any ceremonies connected with any particular period 

 of life ? 



32. Is chastity cultivated, or is it remarkably defective, and are 

 there any classes amongst the people of either sex by whom it is re- 

 markably cultivated, or the reverse, either generally or on particular 



occasions. 



6 H 



