176 



HAIR FEATURES — FORM. 



As exceptions to the general appearance of these people, it 

 ought to be said that, among the Fuegians, I have seen several 

 individuals, both men and women, with curly or frizzled hair 

 (like that of some of the Polynesians or Malays), with rather 

 high foreheads, straight or aquiline noses ; and in other fea- 

 tures allied to the natives of New Zealand rather than to their 

 countrymen of Tierra del Fuego. I was much struck by those 

 exceptions, and, at the time, conjectured that they might be 

 descendants of the Spanish colonists at Port Famine : but since 

 then, having seen the Polynesians, I have been led to think 

 otherwise ; as will be mentioned in a future page relating to 

 New Zealand. 



Phrenological remarks on the forms of their heads are added 

 in the Appendix : some were made on the spot by Mr. Wilson, 

 the former surgeon of the Beagle, and others by a person in 

 London. Mr. Wilson's paper also contains anatomical remarks 

 and measurements. In this place it will be sufficient to remark 

 that their heads are remarkably low, but wide ; and full from 

 the ears backward. The neck of a Fuegian is short and 

 strong. His shoulders are square, but high ; his chest and 

 body are very large. The trunk is long, compared to the limbs 

 and head. His arms and legs are rounder, and less sinewy, 

 than those of Europeans ; his joints are smaller, and his extre- 

 mities are likewise comparatively less. The hands are shaped 

 like those of Europeans, but the feet, from always going bare- 

 footed, are square at the toes, and would, by some persons, be 

 considered of the Papua form. Most of them are rather bow- 

 legged, and they turn their feet a little inwards in walking. 

 The knee is strained by the custom of sitting so long on their 

 heels, so that, when straightened, there are considerable folds 

 or wrinkles of loose skin above and below the joint. The muscles 

 of their thighs are large, but those of the legs, small. Little 

 children are nearly of the same hue as their parents' skin is 

 when cleaned ; but infants are, for a few days, rather lighter 

 coloured. 



As I have already said, a small fillet is all that is worn 

 around the head. Usually this is a mere string, made of the 



