1840.] 



Proceedings of Societies. 



181 



skin being prevented from entering the system by the perspiratory pro- 

 cess, the greater radiating po^Yer of a dark skin must be beneficial in 

 cooling. 



Again, the dark skin places the Negro in the conditions of his cli- 

 mate by causing him to radiate heat at night, and become at that time 

 cooler than a White in the same circumstances. This is a fact which 

 has been observed of the Negroes. Their propensity for exercise in 

 the open air at night has been remarked, 'i'hus we read that when 

 the fleet of Hanno approached the shores of Negroland, the coimtry 

 which, during the day, presented only silent woods without the least 

 trace of man, at night was lighted up with immense fires, while the 

 woods resounded witli the sounds of festivity. In a climate where, 

 during the day, vegetation appears burnt up, the earth is cracked by 

 the heat, and all living creatures languish ; but v/here at night breezes 

 refresh the air, and cheer exhausted nature, plants run with dew, and 

 animals leave their haunts, man also, fitted by the structure of his 

 skin to throw off heat, issues forth animated by the irresistible pro- 

 pensity to exercise which is always given by the bracing air of colder 

 climates. — Edinburgh New Philosophical Journal, October 1840. — Janu- 

 ary 1841. 



XTi— Proceedings of the Madras Literary Society and Auxiliary of 

 the Royal Asiatic Society. 



Thursday Evening, eth August 1840.— A. D. Campbell, Esq. Pre- 

 sident of the Committee of Papers, in the Chair. 



The following works, presented to the Society, were laid on the table, 

 and thanks voted to the donors : — 



Transactions of the Geological Society of London, Second Series, 

 parts 1st and 2d of vol. 5th. — By the Society. 



Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal for December 1839 and 

 January 1 840.— By the Society. 



The Calcutta Journal of Natural History, No. 2.— By the Editor. 



Dr. Corbyn's India Review, No. 50.— By the Editor. 



Journal Asiatique for January 1840.— By the Society. 



