32 On the Aborigines of Brazil, 



made of the inner bark of trees, of cotton, or of lace, which 

 the women wear in some of the more civilized races, can 

 not be regarded as articles of clothing. They are only 

 meant for ornament, or to satisfy the requirements of mo- 

 desty. Their heads too are without covering. Only such 

 Indians as have experienced the influence of European 

 civilization, wear shirts and short trowsers, while their 

 women wear shifts and light gowns, with a hat or a cap, 

 the latter generally woollen. Now although the climate of 

 Brazil is very mild, yet it is subject to great variations, 

 especially in mountainous parts and in the neighbourhood of 

 the sea and of large rivers. The savage is in such places 

 often exposed within 24 hours to a change in the tem- 

 perature of 8 or 9 degrees.* It is clear that this cir- 

 cumstance must have a powerful effect on his health and 

 disposition to disease. The skin of the red man, is, as 

 already observed, uncommonly thick, and of stronger and 

 closer texture than that of the European, it has beneath 

 it a thick layer of fat, and besides is rendered hardy by 

 usage from youth upwards. From this we may assume that 

 it is but little calculated to act as an organ of reaction in the 

 healing processes of nature, or to favour critical action, and 

 by its means produce favourable secretions. The skin of 

 the Indian is in fact unexcitable and coarse, and has not 

 the firmness or vital energy, which might be assumed from 

 its constant exposure. f For this reason he often catches 

 cold. The red man is particularly susceptible of the injuri- 

 ous action of night dew and of moon-light : and he needs to 

 guard himself against them with a degree of care not at all 

 corresponding with his indifference in other matters. He 

 is very unwilling to leave his warm hut in a damp evening : 



* We found the mean temperature of the air in the neighbourhood of the 

 Amazon to be about 8l£° or 82£°, that of the surface of the river water 79^°. 

 In these localities the greater changes of temperature do not take place, as in the 

 more elevated parts of southern districts. 



f Many will regard all this as too theoretical.— -Tr. 





