The Descent of Man

the leg after the fashion of the country." In the
Old and New Worlds the shape of the skull
was formerly modified during infancy in the
most extraordinary manner, as is still the case
in many places, and such deformities are considered
ornamental. For instance, the savages
of Colombia (45. Quoted by Prichard, 'Physical
History of Mankind,' 4th ed. vol. i. 1851, p. 321.)
deem a much flattened head "an essential point
of beauty."
The hair is treated with especial care in various
countries; it is allowed to grow to full length, so
as to reach to the ground, or is combed into "a
compact frizzled mop, which is the Papuan's
pride and glory." (46. On the Papuans, Wallace,
'The Malay Archipelago,' vol. ii. p. 445. On the
coiffure of the Africans, Sir S. Baker, 'The Albert
N'yanza,' vol. i. p. 210.) In northern Africa "a
man requires a period of from eight to ten years
to perfect his coiffure." With other nations the
head is shaved, and in parts of South America