XII.] 
THE COLOUR-SENSE OF THE CHURCHES. 
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red-coloured strips of skin partly with white reindeer hair, partly 
with red and black wool, obtained in small quantity by barter 
from Behring’s Straits. The supply of colouring material is not 
particularly abundant. It is obtained partly from the mineral 
kingdom (limonite of different colours, and graphite), partly from 
the vegetable kingdom (bark of various trees). The mineral 
colours are ground with water between flat stones. Bark is 
probably treated with urine. Bed is the Chukches’ favourite 
colour. 
In order to make a contribution towards an answer to the 
disputed question, in what degree is the colour-sense developed 
among savages. Dr. Almquist during the course of the winter 
instituted comprehensive researches according to the method 
worked out by Professor Fr. Holmgren. A detailed account 
of these is to be found in The Scientific Work of the Vega 
Expedition, and in various scientific journals. Here I shall only 
state that Dr. Almquist gives the following as the final result 
of his investigation: “ That the Chukches in general possess as 
good an organ for distinguishing colours as we Swedes. On the 
other hand, they appear not to be accustomed to observe colours, 
and to distinguish sharply any other colour than red. They 
bring together all reds as something special, but consider that 
green of a moderate brightness corresponds less with a green of 
less brightness than with a blue of the same brightness. In 
order to bring all greens together the Chukches thus require to 
learn a new abstraction.” Of 800 persons who were examined, 
278 had a fully developed colour-sense, nine were completely 
colour-blind, and eighteen incompletely colour-blind, or gave 
uncertain indications. 
From what has been stated above it appears that the coast 
Chukches are without noteworthy religion, social organisation, 
or government. Had not experience from the Polar races of 
America taught us differently we should have believed that with 
