170 WORLD-POWER AND EVOLUTION 



Africa are markedly long-headed. In addition to the general 

 difference between the two branches of the race, there are still 

 more significant differences between the various parts of the 

 Ashkenazim. A comparison of the Jewish and non-Jewish parts 

 of the population in different sections of Germany, Poland, 

 Austria, Russia, Roumania, and Bulgaria shows that both the 

 stature and the shape of the head vary among the Jews almost 

 exactly as among the Gentiles. On the other hand, the degree of 

 blondness by no means varies in harmony with that of the sur- 

 rounding non- Jewish population. Thus it appears that the Jewish 

 race is so variable that its different portions present distinct 

 racial characteristics. 



This brings up the extremely difficult question of racial purity. 

 There are evidently three main physical traits in which the 

 Jews vary from place to place. These are, first, stature, with 

 which may be associated weight ; second, complexion ; and third, 

 the form of the head. Are the variations in these due to inter- 

 marriage with the surrounding Gentile population? The only 

 other possible causes seem to be economic conditions and climate. 

 Let us begin by seeing what relation complexion has to each of 

 these three, that is, to racial mixture, economic conditions, and 

 climate. Whatever may have been the case in later times, it is 

 almost certain that in Biblical days the Hebrews intermarried 

 with various other races who may have introduced a blond strain. 

 One of these was the Amorites, who are supposed to have been an 

 Aryan people. Esau was "red," and David was "ruddy." Later 

 the Jews intermarried somewhat with other races in the early days 

 of the Christian era, and also received some converts who were 

 presumably more or less blond. Thus from remote times there 

 has been a blond strain among the Jews. Among the Shephardim 

 of the Mediterranean regions this strain has largely disappeared. 

 Possibly this is due to intermarriage with the dark Mediterranean 

 races, but there is no direct evidence of this. The same darkening 

 of the race has taken place among the Greeks, Romans, and 



