ANIMALS. 4t'5 



prove that the blacks aie a race of people bred from one man, 

 who was marked with accidental blackness. This, however, is 

 but mere ungrounded conjecture : and, although the Americans 

 are not so dark as the negroes, yet we must still continue in the 

 ancient opinion, that the deepness of the colour proceeds 

 from the excessive heat of the climate. For, if we compare the 

 beats of Africa with those of America, we shall find they bear 

 no proportion to each other. In America, all that part of the 

 continent, which lies under the line, is cool and pleasant, either 

 shaded by mountains, or refreshed by breezes from the sea. 

 But in Africa, the wide tract of country that lies under the line 

 is very extensive, and the soil sandy ; the reflexion of the sun, 

 therefore, from so large a surface of earth, is almost intolerable ; 

 and it is not to be wondered at, that the inhabitants should bear, 

 m their looks, the marks of the inhospitable climate. In 

 America, the country is but thinly inhabited ; and the more 

 torrid tracts are generally left desert by the inhabitants ; for 

 which reason they are not so deeply tinged by the beams of the 

 sun. But in Africa the whole face of the country is fully 

 peopled ; and the natives are obliged to endure their situation, 

 without a power of migration. It is there, consequently, that 

 they are in a manner tied do«n to feel all the severity of the 

 heat ; and their complexions take the darkest hue they are capa- 

 able of receiving. We need not, therefore, have recourse to any 

 imaginary propagation, from persons accidentally black, since 

 the climate is a cause obvious and sufficient to prodirce the 

 effect. 



In fact, if we examine the complexion of different countries, 

 we shall find them dai'ken in proportion to the heat of their 

 climate ; and the shades gradually to deepen as they approach 

 the line. Some nations, indeed, may be found not so much 

 tinged by the sun as others, although they lie nearer the line. 

 But this ever proceeds from some accidental causes ; either 

 from the country lying higher, and consequently being colder ; 

 or from the natives bathing oftener, and leading a more civilized 

 life. In general, it may be asserted, that as we approach the 

 line, we find the inhabitants of each country grow browner, 

 until the colour deepens into perfect blackness. Thus, taking 

 our standard from the whitest race of people, and beginning 

 with our own country, which. I believe, bids fairest for the pre- 



