COLOUR. 



761 



tor ; whilst those nations which were farthest removed 

 * 'V"*' from the torrid zone, were uniformly found to have the 

 fairest complexions : they co^ld not therefore desire a 

 more complete induction of facts to authorise their con- 

 clusion, that the different shades of colour were to be as- 

 cribed to the effects of climate. 



Modern discoveries have greatly enlarged our know- 

 ledge, and furnished us with many facts totally unknown 

 to the ancient?. There are now found many exceptions 

 to the rule which they adopted, and nations of v?ry dif- 

 ferent complexions, are found under the same parallel of 

 latitude. This discovery first gave rise to the hypothe- 

 sis, that different regions of the globe have been peo- 

 pled with different races of men. But if we take the 

 thermometer for our guide, and estimate by the degree 

 of heat, rather than the degree of latitude, we shall have 

 a rule which approaches nearer to the truth, though sub- 

 ject to modifications which we shall afterwards specify. 



It is impossible to estimate the degree of heat in any 

 country, merely by measuring its distance from the equa- 

 tor : its climate is affected by its elevation above the sea, 

 by the height of its mountains, by the extent of conti- 

 nent, or by the nature of its surface. All these circum- 

 stances operate with peculiar force on the continent of 

 America, which is found to differ as much from the old 

 world in its surface, and in the temperature of its climate, 

 39 its natives differ in appearance from other inhabitants 

 of the globe. There are no blacks fouud in America, 

 though the torrid zone stretches across its continent. 

 But this is exactly what we might expect, on the suppo- 

 sition that the colour is afferted principally by heat. The 

 immense extent of ocean by which its shores are bounded* 

 its lofty mountains, running almost continuously from one 

 extremity of the continent to the other, with their tops 

 covered with per]>etual snow, cool the scorching breezes 

 of tht torrid /.'we, and convert it into a temperate climei 

 Were we then to find negroes in the torrid zone in Ame- 

 rica, aa v. e 'ind them in Africa, it would be the surest 

 proof tl'.af they wre a different race from the rest of 

 mankind, as it would be evident that their colour could 

 not be ascribed to the effects of heat. The plain of 

 Mexico, according to Humboldt, is about eight thou- 

 sand feet above the I--vclof the sea, and this circumstance, 

 though it lies within the tomd zone, must necessarily en- 

 sure a temperate climate ; the inhabitant*, of course, are 

 found to be only of a tawny complexion. Similar causes 

 operate throughout the whole extent of America, pro- 

 ducing an uniformity of < -imidte unknown in the ancient 

 world, and consequently ?. much greater uniformity in the 

 appearance of its inhabitants. 



To this reasoning, however, it has been objected, that 

 the difference of colour cannot be ascribed to heat, since 

 tribes have been found within the torrid zone, in Africa, 

 separated from each other only by a river, yet differing 

 widely in appearance and complexion. Thus it is said, 

 that on one side of the river Senegal, the inhabitants are 

 perfectly black, on the other only tawny. If this be the 

 fact, and we are not concerned to d'spute it, we must 

 seek for some modification of the principle which we 

 have laid down, viz. that the difference of colour is to be 

 ascribed to the different degrees of neat ; and it is easy 

 to account for this apparent anomaly without relinquish- 

 ing the principle which we have aeum>-d. It is evident, 

 that the form and colour cf the human body are much 

 affected by the degree of refinement to which a nation 

 has attained, by the food on which it subsists, or by the 

 occupations in which it is most usually engaged. We 

 observe a wide difference of appearance, in the different 

 ranks of European society^ varying, in general, accord- 



VOL. VI. PAKT II. 



ing to the station, or employment of different indivi- 

 duals. May we not expect to see the same difference 

 among rude tribes, placed in the same circumstances a 

 to temperature, but differing widely in their general ha- 

 bits and employments ? If cleanliness should ever be- 

 come an object with any tribe in the torrid zone, or if 

 they should ever alter their ideas so completely, as to es- 

 teem L-lanching of the skin a beauty, in that case there 

 can be little doubt that even the Ethiopian might in 

 some degree change the ebon gloss of his complexion. 

 But though we cannot expect this change of complexion 

 to be effected by any voluntary effort on the part of 

 people, who esteem blackness beautiful, and who unques- 

 tionably find it convenient ; yet it may be produced by 

 circumstances over which they have no controul, or by 

 habits which they may- be unwilling to relinquish. There 

 can be no doubt that their colour must be considerably 

 affected by the nature and quality of the food on which 

 they subsist. We see a visible difference in the flesh of 

 the same animals, according to the nature of their food, 

 and we must naturally suppose the same effects to be 

 produced on the human body, by the same circumstances. 

 A tribe which lives chiefly on fruit, or vegetable produc- 

 tions, may be expected, cccteris paribus, to differ in com- 

 plexion from those who live on fish, or animal food ; and 

 they who live on clean and wholesome nourishment, from 

 those who feed on coarse and filthy fare. -, 



. From these causes it is easy to see, how conterminous 

 tribes may differ considerably in their external appear- 

 ance, since every thing that influences their habits and 

 manner of living must, in some measure, affect their ap- 

 pearance and complexion. 



But besides tliese permanent causes of distinction, 

 there is another which must not be lost sight of; that is, 

 the recent settlement of various tribes within the limits 

 of the torrid /.one. It is a fact, ascertained beyond ths 

 possibility of a doubt, that a tribe which has emigrated 

 from a temperate to a hot climate, will be many ages in 

 acquiring that shade of colour which distinguishes the 

 indigenous inhabitants. Were we, therefore, to find two 

 tribes possessing the same habits, and enjoying the same 

 temperature as to climate, yet differing considerably as 

 to complexion, it would be absurd to resort to the un< 

 philosophical expedient of supposing a difference of spe- 

 cies, when the circumstance might be easily explained 

 from the recency or antiquity of their emigration. The 

 world is not yet old enough to ascertain the fact, how 

 long it will take to pass from white to the deepest black. 

 As far as our experience extends, however, we see every 

 generation descended from white parents in the torrid 

 zone, acquiring a deeper tinge, and gradually approach^ 

 ing that complexion which distinguishes the perfect ne- 

 gro. We are told that the Portuguese settled at Mi- 

 tomba, a river in Sierra Leone, have, by their marriages 

 with the natives, and by the operation of the climate, 

 degenerated into perfect negroes, with woolly hair, 

 thick lips, &c. and retaining scarcely a trace of their, 

 original, except a smattering of the Portuguese Ian*, 

 guage. 



We have as satisfactory evidence, that a similar change 

 is produced when negroes are transplanted to a tempe- 

 rate climate. Every succeeding generation is fairer than 

 that which preceded it, though we are not as yet able to 

 ascertain what length ot time is necessary to wash out the 

 constitutional stain from their skin. We have, however, 

 the most undoubted authurity for the fact. It is express- 

 ly affirmed by the Abbe Rayhal, with respect to the de- 

 scendants of negro parents in North America ; and more 

 particularly by J)r Smith, of New Jersey, who has exa- 



