258 



HISTORY OF MEXICO. 



to a thoufand diftempers occafioned by the corruption of 

 the air and the flench of the foil. 



Concerning the ftature of the Americans he fays, in 

 genera], that although it is not equal to the ftature of the 

 Caftilians, there is but little difference between them. 

 But we are confident, and it is notorious through the 

 whole of New Spain, that the Indians who inhabit thofe 

 countries, lying between nine and forty degrees of north 

 latitude, which are the limits of the difcoveries of the 

 Spaniards, are more than five Parifian feet in height, and 

 that thofe who do not reach that ftature are as few in 

 number amongft the Indians as they are amongft the 

 Spaniards. We are certain befides, that many of thofe 

 nations, as the Apaches, the Hiaquefe, the Pimefe, and 

 Cochimies, are at leaft as tall as the talleft Europeans j 

 and we are not confcious, that in all the vaft extent of 

 the new world, a race of people has been found, except 

 the Efquimaux, fo diminutive in ftature as the Laplan- 

 ders, the Samojeds, and Tartars, in the north of the old 

 continent. In this refpeft, therefore, the inhabitants of 

 the two continents are upon an equality. 



In regard to the regularity and proportion of the 

 limbs of the Mexicans, we do not need to fay more than 

 we have already faid in our firft book. We are per- 

 fuaded, that among all thofe who may read this work in 

 America, no one will contradict the defcription we have 

 given of the ftiape and character of the Indians, unlefs 

 he views them with the eye of a prejudiced mind. It is 

 true, that Ulloa fays, in fpeaking of the Indians of 

 Quito, he had obferved, " that imperfect people abound- 

 " ed among them, that they were either irregularly 

 M diminutive, or monftrons in fome other refpect, that 

 " they became either infenfibie, dumb, or blind, or want- 



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