A New Voyage and Description of the Isthmus of America (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1903 edition. Excerpt: ... 131] Of the Indian Inhabitants; their Manners, Customs, &c. THE Indian Inhabitants of the Isthmus are Indian not very numerous, but they live thickest Inhabitants. on the North-side, especially along the sides of Rivers. The wild Indians of the Southside live most towards Peru; But there are Indians scatter'd up and down all parts of the Isthmus. The size of the Men is usually about 5 or 6 Their Foot. They are streight and clean-limb'd, Staturebig'd-bon'd, full-breasted, and handsomly Shapeshap'd. I never saw among them a crooked or deformed Person. They are very nimble and active, running very well. But the Women are short and thick, and not so lively as the Men. The young Women are very plump and fat, well-shap'd; and have a brisk Eye. The elder Women are very ordinary; their Bellies and Breasts 132] being pensile and wrinkled. Both Men and Women are of a round Visage, with Featuresshort bottle Noses, their Eyes large, generally grey, yet lively and sparking when young. They have a high Forehead, white even Teeth, thin Lips, and Mouth moderately large. Their Cheeks and Chin are well proportion'd; and in Macawsticks. general they are handsomly featur'd, but the Men more than the Women. Hair. Both Sexes have streight, long, black Hair, lank, course and strong, which they wear usually down to the middle of the Back, or lower, hanging loose at its full length; only the Women tie it together with a String just behind the Head, below which it flows loose as the Mens. Both Men and Women pride themselves much in the length of the Hair of the Head; and they frequently part it with their Fingers, to keep it disentangled; or comb it out with a sort of Combs of Combs they make of Macaw-wood. This Comb is made of several small Sticks, of about 5...