Rhode Island American And Providence Gazette

A CURIOSITY.

The British embassy who visited Ava in October of last year, give the following account of a singular lusus naturae whom they saw in that capital.

In the department of curiosities, may be mentioned the existence at Ava, of a man covered from head to foot with hair, whose history is not less remarkable than that of the celebrated porcupine man, who excited so much curiosity in England, and other parts of Europe, near a century ago. The hair on the face of this singular being, the ears included, is shaggy and about eight inches long. On the breast and shoulders it is from four to five. It is singular that the teeth of this individual are defective in number; the molars or grinders being entirely wanting. This person is a native of the Shan country, or Laos, and from the banks of the upper portion of the Salween or Martaban river: he was presented to the King of Ava, as a curiosity, by the prince of that country. At Ava he married a pretty Burmese woman, by whom he has two daughters.

The eldest resembles her mother, the youngest is covered with hair like her father, only that it is white or fair, whereas his is now brown or black, having, however, been fair when a child, like that of the infant. With the exceptions mentioned both the father and his child are perfectly well formed, and, indeed, for the Burman race, rather handsome. The whole family were sent by the King to the residence of the mission where drawings and descriptions of them were taken.