132 Count Rumford’s Enquiry concerning the Nature of Heat , 
facts they establish, in taking measures for the preservation of 
the health of Europeans who quit their native climate to inhabit 
hot countries. 
All I will venture to say on the subject is, that were I called 
to inhabit a very hot country, nothing should prevent me from 
making the experiment of blackening my skin, or at least of 
wearing a black shirt, in the shade, and especially at night; in 
order to find out if, by those means, I could not contrive to 
make myself more comfortable. 
Several of the savage tribes which inhabit very cold countries, 
besmear their skins with oil ; which gives them a shining ap- 
pearance. The rays of light are reflected copiously from the 
surface of their bodies. May not the frigorific rays, which arrive 
at the surface of their skin, be also reflected, by the highly po- 
lished surface of the oil with which it is covered ? 
If that should be the case, instead of despising these poor crea- 
tures for their attachment to a useless and loathsome habit, we 
should be disposed to admire their ingenuity, or rather to admire 
and adore the goodness of their invisible guardian and instructor, 
who teaches them to like, and to practice, what he knows to be 
useful to them . 
The Hottentots besmear themselves, and cover their bodies, 
in a manner still more disgusting. They think themselves fine, 
when they are besmeared and dressed out according to the 
loathsome custom of their country. But who knows whether they 
may not in fact be more comfortable , and better able to support 
the excessive heats to which they are exposed? From several 
experiments which I made, with a view to elucidate that point, 
(of which an account will be given to this Society at some future 
period,) I have been induced to conclude, that the Hottentots 
