256 VARIETIES OF COLOUR 



The offspring of Negroes and Americans are called Zambos 

 or Sambos * ; and sometimes Mulattoes. Negroes with 

 Mulattoes produce Zambosf de Mulatai(griffos, or cabros) : 

 an European and Zambo, a Mulatto; an American and 

 Zambo, a Zambaigo. The offspring of the Zambos are 

 styled, in derision, by the Spaniards, Cholos ; tbat of a 

 Negro aiid Zamba is called Zambo prieto (black Zambo X). 



" In a country governed by whites, the families reputed 

 to have the least mixture of Negro or Mulatto blood are na- 

 turally the most honoured. Thus, in (Spanish) America, 

 the greater or less degree of whiteness of skin decides the 

 rank of an individual in society, A white, who rides bare- 

 footed on horseback, thinks he belongs to the nobility of the 

 country. When a common man disputes with one of the 

 titled lords of the country, he is frequently heard to say, 

 ^Do you think me not so white as yourself?' It becomes, 

 consequently, a very interesting business for the public 

 vanity to estimate accurately the fractions § of European 

 blood which belong to the different casts." 



" It often happens that the families suspected of being of 

 mixed blood demand from the high court of justice (au- 



* " Tile descendants of Negroes and Indian women bear at Mexico, Lima, 

 and even at the Havannah, the strange name of Chino, Chinese. On the 

 coast of Ciiraccas, and, as appears from the laws, even in New Spain, they 

 are called Zambos. This last denomination is now principally limited to the 

 descendants of a Negro and a female IMulatto, or a Negro and a Cliincse 

 female." IIuiiroldt, he. cit. 



+ The oftspring of a Negro and Negress with a Mulatto man or woman is 

 called in the English colonies Sambo. Edwards' Hist, of the West Indies ; 

 V. ii. p. 18. 



J If a Mulatto and Terccron, or Terceron and Quartcron, intermix, the 

 ofl^spring are called Tcnti en ayre by the Spaniards; because they remain in 

 the same legal condition, neither advancing nor receding. Ulloa, Voyage 

 i. 30. 



If a Terceron mixes with a Mulatto woman, or a Quartcron with a Ter- 

 ceron woman, the offspring are called Saltatras, or retrogrades; because 

 they take a step backwards towards the Negro blood. — Jbid. 



§ Ti\e proportions are represented as follows according to the principles 

 sanctioned by usage. 



