The Daily spy., 1850-06-20
RACES OF MEN.


Of Dr. Charles Pickering Races of Men, and their
Geographieal Distribution containing his observa-
tons while attached to the Scientific Corps of the
United States Exploring Expedition, furnishes the
following interesting summary
The australian Race, in general, has the color
and features of the negro, but with hair instead of
wool. The forehead, however, does not recede like
the negro, and the eve is more sunken and piercing
the lips less uniformly Thick and the nose is less
depressed. But in some instances observed, both
nose and mouth were wider; some individuals seen
by our author ''were of surprising ugness; while
others, contrary to all anticpation had the face de-
cidedly fine; and several of the young women had
very pleasing expression Of couhtenance. The
general form, though sometimes defective, seemed
upon the average better than that of the negro; and
did not find the undue slenderness of limb which
has commonly been attributed to the Australians
Strange as 1t may appear, would refer to an Aus
tralan as the finest model of the human proportions
have ever met with. in muscular development,
combining perfect symmetry, activity, and strength
| while his head might have compared with an an
| tique bust of philosopher -
The aboriginal Australians have no proper form of
government, nor any idea Of ownership of land; both
sexes (as might be expected) go entirely Naked
They strictly in ssthe hunting state" Their
chief thought and care is to get enough to eat In
many devices they exceedingly expert; las for in
stance In their mode of ascending trees, throwing
the boomerang, a missile which takes curved
course, and the management of their war weapons
They reject all innovation and all attempts at civil
ization. Yet they acquire English very readily and
''a child educated at school in Sydney showed in
teectual capacity equal in every respect to that of
his European companions"
The Australians are found only in New Holland
and Tasmania, or Van Diemen's Land Some
probability exists, however, of their being colony
OF them IN Central Persia, where there said to be
tribe Of blacks with straight hair
The Papuan Race The natives ofthe Feiee Is
lands were found TO present so many pecularities
that DIR. Pickering was forced to consider them as
belonging to distinct race. They are black, but
| not SO black as negroes: something like purple
tlnge was observed In some instances. Their faces
are larger than those OF negroes, the lips less proru-
| ding, and the nose more elevated One remarkable
popularity is the hardness or harshness of their skim
! The beard does not cover so much Of the face as
with the white races, but is thicker and the hair
is very full and coarse as to be rather wiry than
woolly. Dressed in the Fejee fashion, that is stand
| ing out from the head and stfened by innumerabIe
braids, and in other modes, it looks like great
cushion over the head and is some protection against
| the blows of their war-cub. 1t obges them to use
wooden neck-plllcw in lying down. They are tai
Ter In stature than the whites, but not SO tall as the
Tongans and Samouans. In shapethey are ungrace-
tul, but very robust the measure Of the leg of one
OF them encircled that of three of the Vincennes
| men. a5
4 singular consequence of their deeper color, the
| yellow which Is favorite with Malayans with them
| gives place TO red; they are also less excessively
fond OF flowers than the other Polynesians. The
attention to their head-dress takes up good part of
| their lives M 4
They are more ingenious than other Polynesians.
| Their war weapons are more numerous and highly
finished; and they have made considerable progress
IN architecture. Among their musical instruments
they have the syrinx, or pipe of Pan In all their
implements there may be observed something like a
school art for the whole Pacific ,,.t
The fejee Islands extremely fertile, and their
waters abound with every variety of fish. Fowls
! are abundant Yams constitute the principle sup
port OF the population, but they have also variety
of Dishes cooked usually by steaming, or boiling. in
earthern pots 'sNo people in the South Seas could
live more comfortably and happily, but for their con-
tlnual treachery towards each other.'' ,t
The peculiar customs of the Fejeeans are well
known through the former account of the Expedition.
Their societyis highly artificial A general system
ofhomicide prevails which seems to have its origin
IN affection fer the young. The consequence is an
increased proportion of person in the prime of life.
Polygamy prevails; and the women do all the work
| of procuring food ifae3
The whole population appears TO be divided into
villages, usually built on the tops of hills and fot
ned; the inhabitants Of each being hostile to their
neighbors aeW .E1 NtEh al
] Cannlbalisn prevails among them, as national
institution. AL one of the villages visited, the male
lnllabitants were about ''coolling a mans SIN
other parts q the globes, says Dr. Pickering, sin-
stances OF cannibalism have occurred, sometimes
from extreme necessity, or as deed of savage fe
roclty; and We read of tribes who practise it as
ceremony, rlgous rite, or even as manifestation
OF affection. AT the Feee Islands, the custom rests
on different grounds. Ii is here nterwoven In the
elements ofsociety; it forms in no slight degree a
pursuit; and is even regarded in the light of re-
Enenent. Instances are of daily occurrence; and
the preparation OF human flesh calls into requistion
variety ofcuhnary processes, and is almost dis
tnct art.'' sFAEtA4, H1ft AftNs4F EF.
Whereve' this family extends the practice pre-
walls, and i may be traced from the Feee Islands
to the shores ofNew Guinea and New Caledonia
inhabitants of other islands in the vicinity, though
often IN rider state Of society," Invariably regard n
with horror II singular that people having SO
revolving custom should be in other respects. AZ
compared with their neghbors, decidedly the most
intellectual Of any Mr.. Hudley, Of Wenham.
quoted by DR.. Pickering, found the Feiees. in the
course Of much experience, the only savage people
''he had ever mel with who would give reasons. and
with whom it was possible TO hold connected con-
Il