The Descent of Man

her barbarous nations have generally had any
such intention in painting themselves.
In the fashions of our own dress we see exactly
the same principle and the same desire to carry
every point to an extreme; we exhibit, also, the
same spirit of emulation. But the fashions of
savages are far more permanent than ours; and
whenever their bodies are artificially modified,
this is necessarily the case. The Arab women of
the Upper Nile occupy about three days in
dressing their hair; they never imitate other
tribes, "but simply vie with each other in the
superlativeness of their own style." Dr. Wilson,
in speaking of the compressed skulls of various
American races, adds, "such usages are among
the least eradicable, and long survive the shock
of revolutions that change dynasties and efface
more important national peculiarities." (73.
'Smithsonian Institution,' 1863, p. 289. On the
fashions of Arab women, Sir S. Baker, 'The Nile
Tributaries,' 1867, p. 121.) The same principle