The Natural History of the Varieties of ManLatham, R. G. (Robert Gordon)
Science
The Natural History of the Varieties of Man
Latham, R. G. (Robert Gordon)
Ethnology
"The _Feejeean_ physiognomy differs from that of the _Polynesians_, not
so much in any particular feature, as in a general debasement of the
whole, and a decided approximation towards the forms characteristic
of the Negro race. The head is usually broad in the occipital region
(which they consider a great beauty), and narrows towards the top
and in front,--the forehead, though often of good height, appearing
compressed at the sides. The eyes are black and set rather deep, but
never obliquely. The nose is not large, and is generally a good deal
flattened; the nostrils are often larger laterally than forwards, and
the nose is then much depressed at the upper part between the eyes.
The mouth is wide, and the lips, particularly the upper one, thick.
The chin varies, but is most commonly short and broad. The jaws are
larger, and the lower part of the face far more prominent than in the
_Malay_ race. The cheek-bones, also, project forwards as in the Negro,
and not laterally, as in the _Mongol_ variety; notwithstanding which,
the narrowness of the forehead at the temples gives a greater width to
the face at the malar portion than elsewhere. The whole face is longer
and thinner than among the _Polynesians_. The hair is neither straight
nor woolly, but may be properly designated as frizzled. When allowed
to grow without interference, it appears in numerous spiral locks,
eight or ten inches in length, spreading out on all sides of the head.
Sometimes these curls are seen much longer, falling down to the middle
of the back. It is, however, very seldom allowed to grow naturally.
The young boys have it cut very close, and sometimes shaved to the
skin, like the _Tahitians_. In girls, before marriage, it is allowed
to grow long, and is coloured white by washing it with a solution of
lime, except a portion around the crown, which is plastered with a
black pigment. After marriage, it is either cut to the length of one or
two inches, or frizzled out like that of the men: in both cases it is
frequently soaked in colouring liquids, either red or black. The men in
general have their hair dressed so as to form an immense semiglobular
mass, covering the top, back, and sides of the head. The arrangement of
this chevelure is performed for the chiefs by professional barbers, and
is a work of great labour. Six hours are sometimes occupied in dressing
a head; and the process is repeated at intervals of two or three weeks.
It is probably to guard against disarranging this work that the piece
of bamboo which is placed under the neck in sleeping is employed,
instead of the ordinary pillow. For the same purpose the natives
usually wear, during the day, a _sala_ or _kerchief_, of very thin
gauze-like paper cloth, which is thrown over the hair and tied closely
around the head, so as to have very much the appearance of a turban.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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