248 VARIETIES OF COLOUR ^ 



In all cases, however, this leucaethiopic constitution has 

 only occurred sporadically, or in detached instances, as a con- 

 genital variety, from individuals of the ordinary characters in 

 their respective races. It has indeed been asserted that 

 whole tribes of Albinos exist in Africa '^, Java, Ceylon, and 

 the isthmus of Darien f ; but no eye-witness reports such 

 a fact ; and Wafer :{:, whose authority is often cited, ex- 

 pressly mentions "that they are not a distinct race by them- 

 selves, but now and then one is bred of a copper-coloured 

 father and mother/' Hence the notion of entire leucae- 

 thiopic nations may be regarded as completely unfounded. 



There is another description of men witli a very fair or 

 white skin, yellow (flaxen) or red hair, and generally blue 

 or light gray eyes (irides). Such individuals, when the 

 health is good, and the circulation active, have a rosy tint, 

 which is deeper and more florid in the face. The cutaneous 

 capillaries are easily filled ; and their " eloquent blood" 

 sympathizes with every mental emotion. The ancient and 

 modern Germans, and the nations descended from them, the 

 Belgians, Dutch, the Danes, Swedes, English, &c. have 

 this character. 



Lastly, there is a most extensive race. Including nearly 

 all the people enumerated in the first division, with the 

 skin, although white, possessing more or less of a brown 

 tint, accompanied with dark brown or black hair, and dark 

 eyes. 



II. Yellow or olive (gilvus or buxeus, a middle tint, be- 

 tween that of ripe wheat and boiled quince or dried lemon- 

 peel) characterizes the Mongolian tribes, usually called, 

 together with the inhabitants of great part of Asia, Tartars, 

 (Tatars). 



* " Les Albinos sont a la v^rit^ une nation tr^s petite et tr^s rare ; lis habi- 

 tent au milieu de I'Afrique, leur faiblesse ne leur permet guere de s'ecarter 

 des cavernes oh. ils demeurent ; cependant les Negres en attrapent quelquc- 

 fois, et nous les achetons d'eux par curiosity." Voltaire Essai sur les 

 Mceurs^ introduction. 



+ BuFFON by Wood ; vol. iii. pp. 328, 344, 4 19. 



% Loc. cit. 



