t '3 8 j 
increafe the Influence of the Sun upon the Body, 
or to thicken and harden the Skin, upon which its 
Blacknefs depends. Thefe Cuftoms are, 
1. The Cudom of going naked among mod of 
the Nations of Africa, efpecially thofe that are black, 
both in former Days, as well as at prefenr. 
2. Living not only without Cloaths, but alfo with- 
out Houfes, in a very barbarous and rude manner, 
little better than the wild Beads ; as the Cafers do at 
this Day all over Africa ; and was the Cuftom of the 
Nomades , Troglodyte, Numidians , and many other 
barbarous Nations of old [a). 
3. The Cudom of wandering up and down in 
thefe Tandy Deferts, in the fcorching Heat of the 
Sun, dark-naked, with no Houfe or cool Shade to 
retire to, nor Water to refrefh themfelves with, or 
cool their Bodies in : 
Nulla domus ; plaujlris habitant ; migrate per arva 
Mos, dr errantes circumvedlare penates. 
4. The Cudom of mod People in hot Countries 
of Anointing their Bodies with dome greafy and 
un&uous Epithems, to defend their Skins from the 
fcorching Heat of the Sun, will be found likewife to 
increafe the Darknefs of their Colours. 
On the contrary, the Cudoms and Ways of Life 
in Ufe among the Europeans , and other Nations of 
fair Complexions, contribute to render their Skins 
whiter than they otherwife would be, or than they 
were, in all Probability, originally. Thefe Cudoms 
feemto be, an almodcondant Confinement, or rather 
Imprifonment, from the open Air ; warm and foft 
Cloaths, 
(a) Lud. Wji. yEthiop. lib. 1. cap. 14. Plin. Hift. 8cc. 
