[15] Holub, op. cit. ii. 309.
[16] Casati, op. cit. i. 44.
[17] Baker, Albert N’yanza, i. 89.
[18] Burchell, Travels in the Interior of Southern Africa, ii. 521, 553.
We commonly find that savages who are clean in certain respects are dirty in others. The Wanyoro bathe frequently and always wash their hands before and after eating, but their dwellings are very filthy and swarm with vermin.[19] The Nagas of India[20] and the natives of the interior of Sumatra,[21] though cleanly in their persons, are very dirty in their apparel. The Mayas of Central America make frequent use of cold water, but neither in their persons nor in their dwellings do they present an appearance of cleanliness.[22] So also the Californian Indians, whilst exceedingly fond of bathing, are unclean about their lodges and clothing.[23] The Aleuts, though they wash daily, allow dirt to be piled up close to their dwellings, prepare their food very carelessly, and never wash their household utensils.[24] The New Zealander, again, whilst not over-clean in his person, is very particular respecting his food and also keeps his dwelling in as much order as possible.[25] On the other hand there are very many uncivilised peoples who are described as generally filthy in their habits—for instance, the Fuegians,[26] many Indian tribes in the Pacific States,[27] several Eskimo tribes,[28] various Siberian peoples,[29] the Ainu of Japan,[30] most hill tribes in India,[31] many Australian tribes,[32] the Bushmans,[33] and, generally, the dwarf races of Africa.[34] But although these peoples never or hardly ever wash their bodies, or do not change their dress until it is worn to pieces, or eat out of the same vessels as their dogs without cleaning them, or feed on disgusting substances, or regard vermin as a delicacy—we may assume that their toleration of filth is not absolutely boundless.
[19] Wilson and Felkin, op. cit. ii. 46. Baker, Albert N’yanza, ii. 58.
[20] Stewart, ‘Northern Cachar,’ in Jour. Asiatic Soc. Bengal, xxiv. 616.
[21] Marsden, History of Sumatra, p. 209.
[22] Bancroft, op. cit. i. 654.
[23] Powers, Tribes of California, p. 403. Bancroft, op. cit. i. 377, 407.