five feet ten inches have been noticed as
particular specimens--better grown individuals than their fellows. And
men under five feet have also been noticed for the contrary reasons.
Numerous measurements, however, give about five feet as the height of an
Eskimo woman, and five feet six inches as that of a man. This is more
than so good an authority as Mr. Crawfurd gives to the Malays; whose
person is squat, and whose average stature does not exceed five feet
three or four inches. It is more, too, than Sir R. Schomburgk gives the
Guiana Indians, as may be seen from the following table:--
+---------------+-------+-------------+
| | Aged. | ft. in. |
+---------------+-------+-------------+
| _Wapisianas._ | 12 | 4 8-5/10 |
| | 15 | 4 6 |
| | 16 | 5 1-1/10 |
+---------------+-------+-------------+
| _Tarumas._ | 14 | 4 11-3/10 |
+---------------+-------+-------------+
| _Mawackas._ | 15 | 4 10 |
| | 16} | 4 9-5/10 |
| | 17} | |
+---------------+-------+-------------+
| _Atorais._ | 35 | 5 1-5/10 |
| | 15 | 5 1 |
+---------------+-------+-------------+
| _Macusis._ | 14} | 4 8 |
| | 15} | |
| | 14 | 5 0 |
+---------------+-------+-------------+
It is more than the average of several other populations.
Neither is the Eskimo skull so wholly different from the American. It
is, probably, larger in its dimensions; so that its cavity contains more
cubic inches. The measurements, however, which suggest this view, are
but few. On the other hand, the relations between the _width_ and the
_depth_ of the skull, are considered important and distinctive.
By _width_ is meant the number of inches from side to side, from one
parietal bone to the other; in other words, the _parietal diameter_.
_Depth_ signifies the length of the _occipito-frontal_ diameter, or the
number of inches from the forehead to the back of the skull.
Now, in one out of four of the Eskimo crania examined by Dr. Morton, the
parietal diameter so nearly approaches the occipito-frontal as for the
skull in question to be as much as 5.4 inches in width, and as little as
5.7 in depth; a measurement which makes the Eskimo brain almost as
broad as it is long. _Valeat quantum._ It is an extreme specimen. The
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