is a striking difference. They are in general very tall and robust, and exhibit in their legs and arms a fine, full development of muscle, which is unknown to the southern races. … A remarkable circumstance is the presence amongst them of a race, to appearance totally different, and almost white, who seem to exercise no small influence over the rest. … I saw but three men of this fair race myself, and thought they closely resembled Malays; some of my men observed a fourth." Grey, quoting Usberne, refers to the appearance of the people of Roebuck Bay:—"They were about five feet six inches to five feet nine in height, broad shoulders, with large heads and overhanging brows. … Their legs were long and very slight. … There was an exception in the youngest, who appeared of an entirely different race; his skin was a copper-color, whilst the others were black; his head was not so large and more rounded; the overhanging brow was lost; the shoulders more of a European turn, and the body and legs much better proportioned; in fact, he might be considered a well-made man at our standard of figure."[1]
Capt. Stokes gives the following account of the people of the north-west coast:—"The natives seen upon this coast during our cruise, within the limits of Roebuck Bay to the south and Port George the Fourth to the north, an extent of more than two hundred miles, with the exception that I shall presently notice, agreed in having a common character of form, feature, hair, and physiognomy, which I may thus describe. The average height of the males may be taken to be from five feet five inches to five feet nine inches, though, upon one occasion, I saw one who exceeded this height by an inch. They are almost black; in fact, for ordinary description, that word, unqualified by the adverb, serves the purpose best. Their limbs are spare and light, but the muscle is finely developed in the superior joint of the arm, which is probably owing to their constant use of it in throwing the spear. … Their hair is always dark, sometimes straight and sometimes curled, and not unfrequently tied up behind; but we saw no instance of a negro or woolly head among them. They wear the beard upon the chin, but not upon the upper lip, and allow it to grow to such a length as enables them to champ and chew it when excited by rage, an action which they accompany with spitting it out against the object of their indignation or contempt. They have very overhanging brows and retreating foreheads, large noses, full lips, and wide mouths."[2]
The natives of King George's Sound are thus described by Péron:—"Ces hommes sont grands, maigres et très-agiles; ils ont les cheveux longs, les sourcils noirs, le nez court, épaté et renfoncé à sa naissance, les yeux caves, la bouche grande, les lèvres saillantes, les dents très belles et très blanches. L'intérieur de leur bouche paroissoit noir comme l'extérieur de leur corps. Les trois plus âgés d'entre eux qui pouvoient avoir de quarante à cinquante ans, portoient une grande barbe noire; ils avoient les dents comme limées, et la cloison des narines percée; leur cheveux étoient taillés en rond et naturellement bouclés. Les deux autres que nous jugeâmes être âgés de seize à dix-huit ans,
- ↑ North-West and Western Australia, vol. I., pp. 253-5.
- ↑ Discoveries in Australia, by Capt. Stokes, R.N., vol. I., pp. 88-9.
