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52

HE varieties in the human fpecies, with refpect to colour, may be reduced to three; black, white, and a medium between thefe approaching to the colour of copper. This last is the complexion of the indigenous inhabitants of both parts of America. The appellation they give themselves is that of Red Men: an appellation which feems to be fuggefted by no degree of vanity, but by the fimple defire of diftinguishing themselves from thofe tribes of mankind whofe colour is different. Attempts have been made to inveftigate the caufes of the varieties in the human fpecies: thefe caufes have even been confidently aligned; but all the theories on this fubject hitherto are frivolous and unfatisfactory. Though the influence of climate could account for the differences in colour, (which is by no means admitted) it would ftill be altogether infufficient to explain the diverfities of features and general conformation; circumstances not lefs diftinctive than the different colours of the skin.

The Indians are naturally of a coJour bordering upon red. Their frequent expofure to the fun and wind changes it to their ordinary dufky hue. The temperature of the air appears to have little or no influence in this refpect. There is no perceptible difference in complexion between the inhabitants of the high, and those of the low parts of Peru; yet the climates are of an extreme difference. Nay, the Indians who live as far as forty degrees and upwards South or North of the equator, are not to be diftinguifhed, in point of colour, from those immediately under it. In general, the whole original inhabitants of the American continent refemble one another so much, that it is next to impoffible to difcriminate the natives of

any particular region. It is of no confequence whether their climate inclines to the excefs of cold or heat, the fame dufky hue prevails through them all.

In fact, there are fewer varieties among the Indians of America, than among any other race of men. A. mong the Negroes, for inflance, we find fome with fiat nofes, thick and prominent lips, and woolly hair. We find others not lefs black, whose features are entirely different, and their hair lank and fmooth. We find yet others of a copper complexion, and not a few of a fhade ftill more approaching to white, like that of the mulattos.

Among the American Indians, on the contrary, there is almost no difference in point of colour. There is also a general conformation of features and perfon, which, more or lefs, characterizeth them all. Their chief diftinctions in these respects are a fmall forehead, partly covered with hair to the eyebrows, little eyes, the nofe thin, pointed, and bent towards the upper lip; a broad face, large ears, black, thick, and lank hair; the legs well formed, the feet fmall, the body thick and mufcular; little or no beard on the face, and that little never extending beyond a fmall part of the chin and upper lip. It may eafily be fuppofed that this general defcription cannot apply, in all its parts, to every individual; but all of them partake fo much of it, that they may be eafily dif tinguished even from the mulattos, who come nearest to them in point of colour.

Whoever has feen an Indian of any one tribe, may be confidered as having feen them all fo far as regards com plexion, features, and fhape. But the fame obfervation will not apply with

regard

* From Memoires Philofophiques, Hifloriques Phyfiques concernant la decouverte de l'Amerique Par Don Ulloa. Just published.

regard to ftature, which varies confiderably in different regions. The inhabitants of the higher parts of Peru are of a middle fize; those of the lowe parts, a little beyond it. But the tribes inhabiting the countries from the fix-and-thirtieth degree fouthward, toward the capes of Florida, thofe alfo about the thirtieth degree northward, along the banks of the Mifffippi, bordering on Canada and New Spain, are diftinguifhed by large ftature and elegance of perfon. This is a variety which can be afcribed to no difference of climate, feeing the temperature varies as much, even in the different diftricts of Peru, as it does in those countries which are nearest to, or moft diftant from the equator. The refemblance among all the American tribes is not lefs remarkable in refpect to their genius, character, manners, and particular cuftoms. The moft diftant tribes are, in these refpects, as fimilar as though they formed but one nation.

All the Indian nations have a peculiar pleasure in painting their bodies of a red colour, with a certain fpecies of earth. The mine of Guancavelica was formerly of no other ufe than to fupply them with this material for dyeing their bodies; and the cinnabar extracted from it was applied entirely to this purpose. The tribes in Louifiana and Canada have the fame paffion; hence minium is the commodity moft in demand there.

It may seem fingular that these nations, whofe natural colour is red, fhould affect the fame colour as an artificial ornament. But it may be obferved, that they do nothing in this refpect but what correfponds to the practice of Europeans, who alfo ftudy to heighten and difplay to advantage the natural red and white of their complexions. The Indians of Peru have now indeed abandoned the cuftom of painting their bodies: but it was common among them before they were conquered by the Spaniards; and

it ftill remains the custom of all thofe tribes who have preferved their liberty. The Northern nations of America, befides the red colour which is predominant, employ alfo black, white, blue, and green, in painting their bodies.

The adjustment of thefe colours is. a matter of as great confideration with the Indians of Louisiana and the vast regions extending to the North, as the ornaments of drefs among the moft polifhed nations. The bufinefs itfelf they call Matacher, and they do not fail to apply all their talents and affiduity to accomplish it in the moft finished manner. It is here that their patience fhines. It is, indeed, the only thing that never fails to excite them to ac tive exertion. The operation requires five or fix hours, that is a whole morn ing, to be completed. No lady of the greatest fashion ever confulted her mirror with more anxiety, than the Indians do while painting their bodies. The colours are applied with the ut most accuracy and addrefs. Upon the eye-lids, precifely at the root of the eye-lafhes, they draw two lines as fine as the fmalleft thread; the fame upon the lips, the openings of the noftriis, the eye-brows, and the ears; of which laft they even follow all the inflexions and finuofities. As to the reft of the face, they diftribute various figures, in all which the red predominates, and the other colours are afforted fo as to throw it out to the best advantage. The neck alfo receives its proper or naments; a thick coat of vermilion commonly diftinguishes the cheeks. The full time that has already been mentioned, is requifite for accomplishing all this with the nicety which they affect. As their first attempts do not always fucceed to their wish, they efface them and begin a-new upon a better plan. No coquette is more faftidious in her choice of ornament, none more vain when the important adjustment is finished. Their delight and felf-fatisfaction are then

fo

fo great, that the mirror is hardly ever laid down. An Indian Mattached to his mind is the vaineft of all the human fpecies. The other parts of the body are left in their natural ftate, and, excepting what is called a Cachecul, they go entirely naked.

Such of them as have made themfelves eminent for bravery, or other qualifications, are diftinguished by figures painted on their bodies. They introduce the colours by making punctures on their fkin, and the extent of furface which this ornament covers is proportioned to the exploits they have performed. Some paint only their arms, others both their arms and legs; others again their thighs, while thofe who have attained the fummit of warKike renown have their bodies painted from the waift upwards. This is the heraldry of the Indians, the devices of which are probably more exactly adjusted to the merits of the perfons who bear them, than thofe of more civilized countries.

Befides thefe ornaments, the warriors alfo carry plumes of feathers on their heads, their arms, and ancles. These likewise are tokens of valour, and none but such as have been thus diftinguish ed may wear them.

The propenfity to indolence is equal among all the tribes of Indians, civilized or favage. The only employment of those who have preferved their independence is hunting and fifhing. In fome districts the women exercife a little agriculture, in raifing Indian corn and pompions, of which they form a fpecies of aliment, by bruifing them together: they alfo prepare the ordinary beverage in ufe among them, taking care, at the fame time, of the children, of whom the fathers take no charge.

The female Indians of all the conquered regions of South America practife what is called the urcu (a word which among them fignifies elevation.) It confifts in throwing forward the hair from the crown of the head upon

the brow, and cutting it round from the ears to above the eye; fo that the forehead and eye-brows are entirely covered. The fame cuftom takes place in the Northern countries. The female inhabitants of both regions tie the rest of their hair behind, fo exactly on the fame fashion, that it might be fuppofed the effect of mutual imitation. This however being im poffible, from the vaft diftance that feparates them, it confirms the fuppo fition of the whole of America being originally planted with one race of people.

This cuftom does not take place among the males. Thofe of the higher parts of Peru wear long and flowing hair, which they reckon a greať ornament. In the lower parts of the fame country they cut it short, on account of the heat of the climate, a circumftance in which they imitate the Spaniards. The inhabitants of Louifiana pluck out their hair by the root, from the crown of the head forwards, in order to obtain a large forehead, otherwife denied them by na ture. The reft of their hair they cut as fhort as poffible, to prevent their enemies from feizing them by it in battle, and alfo to prevent them from easily getting their fcalp, fhould they fall into their hands as prifoners. An enemy's fcalp is the greatest mark of triumph that an Indian can boaft of. The operation itself is horrible. When it is performed on Europeans, who commonly wear long hair, they make an incifion through the fkin all round the head, and then introducing their fingers between the fcalp and the fcull, tear off the hair and it together. Notwithstanding the cruelty of this operation there have been inftances of perfons who furvived it. When the prifoner has no hair it is still more horri ble, the operator having no proper hold.

In general, the Indians of Peru, whether civilized or favage, and those of Louisiana, are much addicted to crucky. The only difference among

the

the former is, that fuch of them as live under the reftraint of law are thereby prevented from following this natural inclination as far as it would lead them; at the fame time, when ever that reftraint is withdrawn, their natural barbarity immediately ap

pcars.

In their exhibitions of bull-fights for inftance, their great pleafure is to rush at once, to the number of fix or tight, against the animal; each of them armed with a long lance pointed with iron, with which they transfix him all at the fame time. No fooner is he brought to the ground by this united affault, than they cut off the muzzle, the tail, and pieces of the thighs, which they take a pleasure in devouring, even before the creature be dead. Always prompt to engage in any act of cruelty, the eagernefs and vivacity which they difplay on fuch occafions fhew how much they are delighted with them. Hence it is natural to conclude, that if the reftraints of law were withdrawn, they would exercife the fame cruelties towards men that they now do towards bruteanimals. What is moft marvellous of the whole is, that they are deliberate in all this cruelty, which feems to be neither heightened by anger, nor mitigated by compaffion; but to be a cool and uniform fyftem, from which they never deviate.

The whole race of American Indians is diftinguished by the want of beard, and of hair on any part of their perfon, excepting the head. They are alfo diftinguished by thickness of fkin and hardness of fibres, circumftances which probably contribute to that infenfibility to bodily pain for which they are remarkable. An inftance of this infenfibility occurred in an Indian who was under the neceffity of fubmitting to be cut for the ftone. This operation, in ordinary cafes, feldom Lifts above four or five minutes. Unfavourable circumftances in his cafe prolonged it to the uncommon period

of twenty-feven minutes. Yet all this time the patient gave no tokens of the extreme pain commonly attending this operation: he complained only as a perfon does who feels fome flight uneafincfs. At last the ftone was extracted. Two days after, he expreffed a defire for food, and on the eight day from the operation he quitted his bed, free from pain, although the wound was not yet thoroughly clofed. The fame want of fenfibility is obfer ved in cafes of fractures, wounds, and other accidents of a fimilar nature. In all thefe cafes their cure is easily effec ted, and they seem to fuffer less present pain than any other race of men. The fculls that have been taken up in their ancient burying-grounds are of a greater thickness than that bone is commonly found, being from fix to feven lines from the outer to the in ner fuperficies. The fame is remarked as to the thickness of their fkins.

.It is natural to infer from hence, that their comparative infenfibility to pain is owing to a coarfer and stronger organization, than that of other nas tions. The cafe with which they endure the feverities of climate is an other proof of this. The inhabitants of the higher parts of Peru live amidst perpetual frost and fnow. Although their clothing is very flight, they fupe port this inclement temperature without the leaft inconvenience. Habit, it is to be confeffed, may contribute a good deal to this, but much alfo is to be afcribed to the compact texture of their fkin, which defends them from the impreffion of cold through their pores.

The northern Indians resemble them in this refpect: the utmoft rigours of the winter feafon do not prevent them from following the chace almoft naked. It is true, they wear a kind of woollen cloak, or fometimes the skin of a wild bit, upon their fhoulders but befides that it covers only a fmall part of their body, it would appear that they use it rather for ornament

than

than warmth. In fact, they wear it indifcriminately, in the feveritics of Winter and in the fultrieft heats of Summer, when neither Europeans nor Negroes can fuffer any but the flighteft cloathing. They even frequently throw afide this cloak when they go a hunting, that it may not embarrass them in traverfing their forefts, where they fay the thorns and undergrowth would take hold of it; while, on the contrary, they flide fmoothly over the furface of their naked bodies. At all times they go with their heads uncovered, without fuffering the leaft inconvenience, either from the cold or from thofe coups de foleil, which in Louifiana are fo often fatal to the natives of other climates.

The Indians of South America diftinguish themselves by modern dresses, in which they affect various taftes. Thofe of the high country, and of the vallies in Peru, drefs partly in the Spanish fashion. Inftead of hats they wear bonnets of coarfe double cloth, the weight of which neither feems to incommode them when they go to warmer climates, nor does the accidental want of them feem to be felt in fituations where the moft piercing cold reigns.

Their legs and feet are always bare, if we except a fort of fandals made of the ikins of oxen. Thefe enit a moft abominable smell as often as they are wet upon their feet; and, to complete this difagreeable circumftance, they never put them off, but wear them night and day as long as they can hold together: an evidence, among many others, that might be produced of their difregard to cleanlinefs, and infenfibility to things altogether difgufting to other men.

The Indians are naturally addicted to intoxication, and prefer always the ftrongest liquors they can procure. It is not many years fince thofe of Peru made ufe of Chica as their common beverage. But the intereft of certain proprietors of vineyards in the low

country, efpecially in the vallies of Ica, Pifca, and Nafca, has of late introduced the ufe of brandy; the deftructive influence of which is already very vifible. The fame propenfity is re marked in the favage nations to the North, as far as the Europeans have ever penetrated. Thefe have been accuftomed to that pernicious indulgence both by the British colonies in NewEngland, and by the French in Loui fiana and Canada. But it is an indulgence which has already greatly leffen ed the population of those regions.

Their paflion, however, for this be witching poifon is fo great, that, to procure it, they will attempt the most difficult enterprizes, and perpetrate the moft horrible crimes. It has been known more than once in Louifiana, that an Indian, feemingly of the most mild and faithful temper, has bafely murdered his mafter, either on a jour ney or hunting party, merely to get poffeffion of his flask of brandy. He has waited for this purpofe till fleep gave him an opportunity to strike the perfidious blow, and the empty flafk has been found by the fide of the dead body.

It is very common in the higher parts of Peru to fee upon the highways the bodies of Indians who have died of intoxication. Unable to proceed farther, they lie down in their drunkenness, the rigour of the atmofphere benumbs them, and there they remain. But thefe warnings have no effect on others. At Quito, the wives do not partake in this vice of their hufbands, but only attend them for the fake of giving them their affiftance. At Peru, on the contrary, the women drink to equal excefs with the men, and thereby prevent the poffibility of mutual affiftance. The most fhocking circumftance of all is, that they will take their very infants from the breaft and pour thefe poifonous liquors down their throats, thus training them to habits of drunkenness before they have arrived at the ufe of reafon.

Thefe

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