HISTORY OF MADAGASCAR. 
115 
her of distinct tribes, more or less numerous, evidently 
derived from more than one source ; differing also in many 
respects from each other; and remaining, at the present 
time, though nominally comprised in one political empire, 
distinct and peculiar nations. No single account would, 
therefore, present a just description of the various tribes 
comprised in the population of Madagascar. 
There are, however, points in which they bear a general 
resemblance to each other; among these are the following: 
the inhabitants are rather below the middle stature, which 
but few exceed ; and their countenances do not exhibit that 
prominency of features which so frequently distinguishes 
the European and Asiatic nations. The men are more 
elegantly formed than the women, in whom there is usually 
a greater tendency to corpulency than in the other sex. 
The beards of the men are but weak, and are plucked out 
in youth. Their hands are not so warm to the touch as 
those of Europeans, and their blood by thermometer is 
colder. These appear the chief among the few points in 
which, physically considered, there is any resemblance 
between the several nations. The distinction most strongly 
marked is that of colour; and this, though presenting 
slight variations in each tribe, separates the population of 
Madagascar into two great classes, and is by some supposed 
to allow of its being traced to only two sources—the one 
distinguished by a light, exquisitely formed person, fair 
complexion, and straight or curling hair ; the other more 
robust, and dark-coloured, with woolly hair.* In one or 
the other of these classes, the several tribes inhabiting the 
island may be included. 
* Woolly: the analogy on which the hair has been called wool, is ex¬ 
tremely loose and general. It implies nothing more than a slight 
resemblance. 
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