The Lndians of North America. rie 
THE INDIANS OF NORTH AMERICA. 
By Coit. James W. ABERT. 
[Read before the Young People’s ‘‘ Lyceum’”’ March 1, 1t890.] 
IN treating of this people I will arrange the subject under differ- 
ent heads, and wili speak of their origin, habits and character. 
First of their origin; and in this matter we shall speak of their 
physiology, language and traditions. 
We will divide the races of men into three classes—the white, the 
red and the black. 
Our Indians evidently belong to the red race. Humboldt, Mor- 
ton and other savants classify them with the Mongolians, who 
have high cheek bones, narrow and sloping eyes, large ears, big 
mouths, low foreheads, straight, black and coarse hair, and mongo- 
lain shaped skulls. 
Humboldt says ‘“‘that the analogy between the Mongul and the 
American races is particularly evident.”’ 
Animals vary in complexion and color in the various climates. 
The Arctic Esquimaux is of white complexion, the tropical Creeks 
and Seminoles of the Floridas are nearly black. The furs and 
feathers of the brow. races of animals become white at the north. 
A similar race to our Esquimaux live on the west side of Behring 
Strait, which is thirty-six miles across, having islands midway. 
A solid bridge of ice is formed across in winter, so that emigrations 
from Asia are rendered of easy accomplishment, and the induce- 
ments of hunting and fishing must often have led men to traverse 
the narrow straits, or prevailing winds may have forced them to 
the eastern coast from the Asiatic shores. 
The expression of the red man is fixed, grave and stern. This 
is referable to moral causes, for where the mind is not culti- 
vated, and where the emotions of the soul have no scope, the 
physiognomy must reflect the inner dullness of intellect that ani- 
mates the race. 
They have very little beard, and some have the practice of pull- 
ing out their eyebrows and even their eyelashes. 
Some nations flatten the head by using flat pieces of board on 
the tender heads of infants. Others cut the outer edges of the ear 
