*****

The last but the most important production yet remains to be considered.  Whether plodding in London, reeking with human blood in Paris or wandering amidst the solitary wilds of New South Wales—­Man is ever an object of interest, curiosity and reflection.

The natives around Port Jackson are in person rather more diminutive and slighter made, especially about the thighs and legs, than the Europeans.  It is doubtful whether their society contained a person of six feet high.  The tallest I ever measured, reached five feet eleven inches, and men of his height were rarely seen.  Baneelon, who towered above the majority of his countrymen, stood barely five feet eight inches high.  His other principal dimensions were as follows: 

Girth of the Chest. 2 feet 10 inches Girth of the Belly. 2 feet 6 1/2 inches Girth of the Thigh. 18 1/8 inches Girth of the Leg at the Calf. 12 1/8 inches Girth of the Leg at the Small. 10 inches Girth of arm half way between the shoulder and elbow. 9 inches

Instances of natural deformity are scarce, nor did we ever see one of them left-handed.  They are, indeed, nearly ambidexter; but the sword, the spear and the fish-gig are always used with the right hand.  Their muscular force is not great; but the pliancy of their limbs renders them very active.  “Give to civilized man all his machines, and he is superior to the savage; but without these, how inferior is he found on opposition, even more so than the savage in the first instance.”  These are the words of Rousseau, and like many more of his positions must be received with limitation.  Were an unarmed Englishman and an unarmed New Hollander to engage, the latter, I think, would fall.

Mr. Cook seems inclined to believe the covering of their heads to be wool.  But this is erroneous.  It is certainly hair, which when regularly combed becomes soon nearly as flexible and docile as our own.  Their teeth are not so white and good as those generally found in Indian nations, except in the children, but the inferiority originates in themselves.  They bite sticks, stones, shells and all other hard substances, indiscriminately with them, which quickly destroys the enamel and gives them a jagged and uneven appearance.  A high forehead, with prominent overhanging eyebrows, is their leading characteristic, and when it does not operate to destroy all openness of countenance gives an air of resolute dignity to the aspect, which recommends, in spite of a true negro nose, thick lips, and a wide mouth.  The prominent shin bone, so invariably found in the Africans, is not, however, seen.  But in another particular they are more alike.  The rank offensive smell which disgusts so much in the negro, prevails strongly among them when they are in their native state, but it wears off in those who have resided with us and have been taught habits of cleanliness.  Their hands and feet are small*, especially the former.