IN THE HUMAN SPECIES. 239 



The colours impressed on the skin in the operation of 

 tattooing, which we see so frequently in our sailors^ and of 

 which the South-Sea Islanders exhibit such remarkable and 

 often very elegant specimens, reside in the cutis, and are 

 indelible, except by the removal or destruction of the part. 

 The cuticle does not partake in the effect ; which therefore, 

 for obvious reasons, is brighter and more conspicuous when 

 that integument has been removed. 



When we direct our attention to the very numerous colours 

 and shades which the several varieties of the great human 

 family exhibit, merely with the view of ascertaining with 

 how many external modifications nature has been pleased 

 to diversify the chef d'oeuvre of the terrestrial creation? 

 the subject, like all belonging to man, has its attraction and 

 interest. But the investigation becomes much more impor- 

 tant, when it embraces the causes of these appearances, 

 and the degree of force belonging to each ; when we in- 

 quire whether the colour of a people depends on the climate 

 of their present or former abode, or on their descent ; whe- 

 ther that of children is influenced by the climate in which 

 they are born, or by the blood of their parents ; whether 

 it is a sure token of race and pedigree ; how many principal 

 or leading colours we ought to assign to man as at present 

 known ; and whether any and what number of these are to 

 be deemed original or primary. These points are yet un- 

 decided, and certainly worthy of our attention. 



The very nature of language, the want of adequate ex- 

 pressions to denote the endless shades of colour, and the 

 indeterminateness of those which are applied to various 

 tints, create some difficulties in this part of the subject, by 

 producing considerable discrepancies in the reports of tra- 

 vellers, which again are of course increased in many cases 

 by haste and carelessness ; by superficial examination, and 

 loose choice of expressions. The same tribe will be very 



mucosum not being regenerated, and of cicatrices in blacks being there- 

 fore white. I liave had repeated opportunities of ascertaining that this 

 notion is altogether unfounded. 



