li 



THE ETHNOLOGY UF LAST£KH ASIA* 



often attained by the tipper classes. But amongst the eastern 

 Turanian races as a whole the general character of the person is that 

 it is short, thick, muscular and active, the legs are short in propor- 

 tion to the trunk, but generally fleshy and muscular, often dispro- 

 portionately so. The Anamese, Siamese and Burmese reach to 

 about 5 t. 2 to & inches, and amongst the former the height is often 

 under 5 f, and sometimes as low as 4 f. The Chinese are some- 

 what taller. 



The expression of the face is the chief physical distinction between 

 tribes whose features are nearly identical. The practised observer 

 can at once discriminate every tribe by this characteristic, To at- 

 tempt a notice of them all here would be impossible, but a few 

 many be noticed One general remark applies nearly to all, The 

 timidity which characterises the S.E. Asian tribes is never betrayed, 

 Bave in the more secluded, by the expression* because the predomi- 

 nant feeling is a profound admiration of themselves. Under all 

 masques, grave, severe, stolid, respectful or good humoured, a 

 quiet but boundless vanity sways the mind. Owing to their 

 phlegmatic tempiirament they are plain and seemindy open in their 

 physiognomy, and do not express their conceit in their manner and 

 motions like the mercurial natives of S. India. The Tibetans have 

 n mild, good humoured, cheerful and pleasant expression. In the 

 Bhotia it degenerates to a heavy and cunning look, but in the other 

 Himalayan tribes it is nearer the Tibetan. In the Rong it is pecu- 

 liarly soft and lively. Among the eastern races the Chinese have the 

 least expressive face. Its character must be described by negatives. 

 Vigour or boldness there is none, but neither is there a slavish 

 timidity. They look as if their minds were always bent on money 

 making and sensual enjoyment, and went steadily and sensibly to 

 work to attain their objects. The eye and the mouth are entirely 

 sensual. The general expression is subdued and without force or 

 animation, but it is cheerful, combining gravity with lightness and 

 serenity of disposition, and thorough self-esteem. The Anamese 

 face is distinguished by its levity, good humour and power of 

 assuming a degree of sprightliness, all however in keeping 

 with a kind of gentle gravity. The Siamese, Khamti (and I pre- 

 sume the whole Lau family) have, on the contrary* a remarkably 

 grave or severe expression, sometimes with a melancholy but oftener 

 with a harsh, sinister or sullen cast. The Balinese like the 

 American Indians have a striking resemblance to them in this 

 respect. The Burmese have a more cheerful, light and lively 

 expression under their gravity. The Malay varies much, but is 

 commonly intermediate between the Siamese and the Burmese, 

 It is generally however superiour to both in boldness and determi- 

 nation. The general Indonesian and Polynesian expression is 

 soft and indolent yet bold and exceedingly pleasant. In some 

 tribes it is comparatively dull and weak, but m most it tb lively, and 

 intelligent. The eye, good humoured and determined in the Kol, 



