ÖÖI 8x 3 ^c- 0 - Acehbooks.org

4o
S U M A T R A .
from my mind, could it be afcertained that no fuch cuftom prevails.*
Their complexion is properly yellow, wanting the red tinge that conftitutes
a tawny or copper color. They are in general lighter than the
Meftees, or half breed, of the reft of India; thofe of the fuperior clafs,
who are not expofed to the rays of the fun, and particularly their women
of rank, approaching to a great degree of fairnefs. Did beauty confift
in this one quality, fome of them would furpafs our brunettes in Europe.
The major part of the females are ugly, and many of them even to difguft,
yet there are thofe among them, whofe appearance is ftrikingly
beautiful; whatever compofition of perfon, features and complexion,
that fentiment may be the refult of.
The fairnefs of the Sumatrans, comparatively with other Indians,
fituated as they are, under a perpendicular fun, where no feafon of the
year affords an alternative of cold, is, I think, an irrefragable proof, that
the difference of color in the various inhabitants of the earth, is not the
immediate effect of climate. The children of Europeans born in this
ifland, are as fair, and perhaps in general fairer, than thofe born in the
country of their parents. I have obferved the fame of the fecond generation,
where a mixture with the people of the country has been avoided.
On the other hand, the offspring and all the defcendants of the
Guinea and other African Haves, imported there, continue in the laft
inftance as perfectly black as in the original ftock. I do not mean to
enter into the merits of the queftion which naturally connects with thefe
obfervations; but mail only remark, that the fallow and adult countenances,
fo commonly acquired by Europeans who have long refided in
hot climates, are more afcribable to the effect of bilious diftempers, which
almoft all are fubject to in a greater or lefs degree, than of their expofure
to the influence of the weather, which few but feafaring people are
*'" It is allowed by travellers that the Patagonians have tufts of hair on the upper lip and chin.
Captain Carver fays, that among the tribes he vifited, the people made a regular practice of eradicating
their beards with pincers. At Bruffels is preferved, along with a variety of ancient and
curious fuits of armour, that of Montezuma King of Mexico, of which the vizor, or malk f° r
the face, has remarkably large whifkers; an ornament which thofe Americans could not have
imitated, unlefs nature had prefented them with the model.
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