223 



All their limbs are round and fleshy. Their co- 

 lour is that of the whole American race, from the 

 cold table-lands of Quito and New Grenada to 

 the burning plains of the Amazons. It is no 

 longer changed by the varied influence of cli- 

 mate ; it is connected with organic dispositions, 

 which for ages past have been unalterably trans- 

 mitted from generation to generation. If the 

 uniform tint of the skin be more coppery and 

 redder toward the north, it is on the contrary 

 among the Chaymas of a dull brown inclining 

 towards tawny. The denomination of copper co- 

 loured [rouges-cuivres] men could never have 

 originated in equinoctial America to designate 

 the natives. 



The expression of the countenance of the 

 Chaymas, without being hard or stern, has some- 

 thing sedate and gloomy ; the forehead is small, 

 and but little prominent. Thus in several lan- 

 guages of these countries, to express the beauty 

 of a woman, they say, " that she is fat, and has 

 a narrow forehead." The eyes of the Chaymas 

 are black, sunk, and very long : but they are 

 neither so obliquely placed, nor so small, as in 

 the people of the Mongul race, of whom Jornan- 

 des says, that they have rather points, than 

 eyes ; magis puncta quam lumina. The corner 

 of the eye is however sensibly raised up to- 

 ward the temples ; the eyebrows are black, or 

 dark brown, slender, and littled arched ; the 



