( no ) 



but quite the contrary happens, this pofture ten* 

 dering the body fupple ; and they are in fact of a 

 port and ftature, which the handfomeft among 

 us might look upon with envy. What can 

 we oppofe to fo general an experience ? But 

 what I am going to tell you is not fo eafily jufti- 

 fied. ' 



There are nations in this continent called flat- 

 heads, and which have, in fact, their fore-head 

 very flat, and the crown of their head fomewhat 

 raifed. This conformation is not the work of na- 

 ture but of their mothers, who give it to their 

 children gradually from their birth. In order to 

 this, they apply upon the forehead and back part 

 of the head, two maffes of clay or of fome other 

 heavy matter, which they prefs together by de- 

 grees, till the cranium has taken the form they 

 have a mind to give it. It appears that this ope- 

 ration caufes the children to fuffer a great deal, as 

 there is a thick and a whitim matter which proceeds 

 from their noftrils : but neither this circumftance 

 nor the cries of the little innocents alarm the 

 mothers, who are above all things defirous of 

 procuring them this point of beauty which they 

 conceive indifpenfably neceffary. Quite the con- 

 trary happens among certain Algonquins, whom 

 we have thought fit to call fates de Boule^ or 

 Roundheads, and of whom I have already ta- 

 ken notice, they making their chief beauty to 

 confift in having heads perfectly round, and the 

 mothers likewife begin very early to give them 

 this form. I was willing, Madam, to make ufe 

 of the leifure my flay in this place affords me, 

 which will perhaps be longer than I am defirous 



