APPENDIX. 497 



tpre by marriage, is detcrminfd by climate in favor oF ine African color. 

 There arc fimilar accounts of the complexion of the Portuffaefe, who fet- 

 tled at Senegal in 1400 ; and of thole wlio are fettled on the coalt of CoD'- 

 go. The varying coinulexion of the Jews is aifo very remarkable. De- 

 fcended from one itock, their teiigion has prevented their marrying with 

 other people. In Britain and Germanv, they are white. In France and 

 Tuikey, thty are bt own. In Spain and Portugal, their color is iwarthy. 

 In Syria and Chaldea, the olive color prevails. In Arabia and Egypt, 

 they are of a tawny or copper color.* Among every nation they feem to 

 partake of the color of the climate. And one of them, Tudela, relates 

 that his countrymen in Abyllinia, have acquired the daik complexion of 

 the original natives. 



It is obfervable that all thefe change.s, are from a light to a more dark 

 complexion. Similar changes have not been obferved in the negroes, that 

 have been brought into the temperate climates of America. It fhould 

 feem therefore that t!ie tranfuion is eaficr from white to black, than from 

 black to white ; or that (he negro color is the moll dcf ply imprcired 06 

 any ; or that heat has a much more luddeii and powerful cffeft than cold. 

 It ought however to be obferved that it is only in v.hite and lair complex- 

 ion;, that thefe changes of color would foon become vifible, or apparent to 

 common obfervation. In a dark or black countenance, fmall and gradual 

 variations of fhadf would not be obferved. It would not be until the ne- 

 gro had lolt much of bis former color, that the chan;;e woulfl be generally 

 noticed. But I much lu!pe£l that there is fomething mote curious in this 

 fubjedf than has been imagined : That fome of the colors of the humaa 

 countenance, are m their own nature, co'ors which aie lefs changeable 

 than others. It feems to be univerfally the cafe, that the black produced 

 by fcorching, or by an intenfe heat, is the molt durable of any color what- 

 ever : And that white is more foon and eafily fullied, and changed, than 

 any of the other colors, with which any obj;6l is marked. 



3 It feems to be a confirma'ion of ihefc remarks, that the co'ors of men 

 in dilii^rent climates, are in taft fuch, as thofe climates feem to reqairc. 

 Uiid::r the equator the da^kelk Ibade, perieft black takes place. Tlie ne- 

 gro of Africa is placed in the molt intenfe heat, that ;akes place on this 

 globe ; and the color of the negro is the deepeft and darkefl biack, that 

 any where appears on the human countenance, .-idvancing from the equa- 

 tor towards the pole, the color of the human fpccies acquires a complexion 

 inorc and more light ; until having pelTrd throtigh all the intermediate 

 gradiitions of (bade, it terminates in the whiteneis oi a temperate and cold 

 climate. There are indeed variations and exceptions fr<»;Ti this, and from 

 every other genera! law of nature. Iritermixrutes of diflcient nations, mi- 

 gration. differences in food, difeafe, cleanlinefs, health and many other local 

 circumflances and caults, will produce thefe. As fuch variations are not a- 

 greeable to any general law of nature, they are neither evidences of, or ob- 

 jeftions to futh laws; bu' derive their origin from local and particular 

 caufes. — Rut it is impollible not todtfcern the general regularity, lenden- 

 .cy, and effi'ft of the laws of nature, refpefting climate and color. The 

 moff intenfe black, is the general color of man in the hotted part of the 

 globe. Where the heat is confiderably abated, the black abates' too, and, 

 the color becomes fwarthy. To this fucceeds the red or copper color of 

 the eail and weft Indians ; fuited to that part of .'\lia, whcie the Indians 

 have been long lixed and permanently fettled. Tiie next giadation i.s 



» Buffon Nat. Hift. Vol. III. 



