Thus it appears that difference of climate produces a great difference
in the complexion of people. But do not nations living in the same
climate, differ in color? They do. This is remarkably exemplified in
the Tartars and Chinese. The latter are fairer than the former, though
they resemble the Tartars in features; but, then, they are more
polished, and adopt every means to protect themselves from the
weather. On the other hand, the Tartars, are a roving people, without
any fixed dwellings; and hence, are continually exposed to the sun and
air.
We might mention many other causes of a variety of color. Perhaps few
things injure the complexion more than want of cleanliness. This
recalls to my recollection a set of people, who were called Yonkers,
and who lived a few miles from the city of Schenectady, in the state
of New York. When I saw them, some years since, they consisted of
about one hundred souls. Their ancestor’s name was Johnson. He and his
wife were white persons.
Being poor and shiftless, they removed into the woods a few miles from
Schenectady, where they erected a miserable hut, without a floor, and
without a chimney. Some loose straw served them for a bed; and in dirt
and in filth they lived. They had several children, who followed their
examples. Other huts were erected――they intermarried, and in smoke,
and in grease, and in filth, they and their descendants have lived. In
the hottest season of the year the children are accustomed to roll in
the dirt with the pigs around the door; and in the winter season they
play with the ashes and live in the smoke. They seldom, if ever, wash;
and it is doubtful whether a child’s hair is combed half a dozen
times, till it is grown up. When I visited them, which was for the
purpose of distributing bibles among them, it was stated that only
five of the whole clan were able to read.
The consequence of this filthy mode of living may be easily guessed.
They appeared like a different race of beings. Their features were
greatly changed; but much more their complexion. In this latter
respect they were nearly as dark as the North American Indians. From
this story my readers may learn something of the influence which
manner of living exerts, not only on complexion, but even upon
features.
From the foregoing facts it is easy to perceive how white people may,
in process of time, become dark-colored, and even black. Hence,
admitting that Adam and Eve were created white, their descendants
might, through the influence of climate and other causes, become red
and even black.
But, you say, perhaps they were not white――perhaps they were red,
perhaps black. Yes, they might have been red, or they might have been
black. Well, if they were either of these, you ask how any of their
descendants became white.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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