10 On the Aborigines of Brazil. 



an account of the most important physiological relations of 

 the Brazilian aborigines. 



Strong development of the Muscular System. 

 Our first glance at the American savage convinces us, that 

 he possesses a predominant development of the muscular sys- 

 tem. The broad compact figure, fleshy on the trunk and upper 

 extremities, the swelling muscles, of his proportionately 

 short arms, on his broad and arched chest, and on his short 

 and thick neck, his light elastic regular movements, which 

 bring him forward with surprising quickness, even while 

 he takes short steps, his wonderful power of carrying bur- 

 dens, and of continuing for hours the use of the same set of 

 muscles, — all these are peculiarities which at once struck the 

 first discoverers of America, and which we recognise in the 

 Brazilian savage, whether he lives in deep aborginal forests 

 or in open plains. Nevertheless the variety in his mode of life 

 produces a distinct difference in the mould of his body. The 

 inhabitants of the forests are almost always fleshier, broader 

 and more muscular. Those of the plains again are slen- 

 der and smaller-limbed, their motions are more free and 

 supple, and they seem to set a great value on the deve- 

 lopment of muscular power in their legs, for on this account 

 they adorn them with cotton lacing and bird's feathers, and 

 often try to promote the development of their calves by 

 applying round the ankles of their youths tight bands, 

 which are never afterwards taken off. I do not, however, 

 remember ever to have seen an Indian with calves as mus- 

 cular as those which we frequently find among European 

 mountaineers. The freer use of the legs is also accompani- 

 ed by a diminution of size in the pelvic region. The savage 

 on the other hand who lives in dense forests, where he 

 can only take comparatively short steps, and can seldom 

 go quickly forwards in a straight line, is almost always dis- 

 tinguished Jby a striking development of the sinews of his 



