The Descent of Man

need of the comforts of life. This latter conclusion
is directly opposed to that arrived at by
Villerme, from the statistics of the height of the
conscripts in different parts of France. When
we compare the differences in stature between
the Polynesian chiefs and the lower orders within
the same islands, or between the inhabitants
of the fertile volcanic and low barren coral
islands of the same ocean (18. For the Polynesians,
see Prichard's 'Physical History of Mankind,'
vol. v. 1847, pp. 145, 283. Also Godron,
'De l'Espece,' tom. ii. p. 289. There is also a remarkable
difference in appearance between the
closely-allied Hindoos inhabiting the Upper
Ganges and Bengal; see Elphinstone's 'History
of India,' vol. i. p. 324.) or again between the
Fuegians on the eastern and western shores of
their country, where the means of subsistence
are very different, it is scarcely possible to
avoid the conclusion that better food and greater
comfort do influence stature. But the preceding
statements shew how difficult it is to