The examiner. [volume] (Louisville, Ky.) 1847-1849, 1849-01-27

emerged, in a greater or less degree, from
their original barbarism. This has chief,
taken place through the influence of ihe Ma
hommedan religion, which prevails exten
sively among the people OF the central anc
eastern part Of AlIica.
SIN regard to the transplsnted negroes, i
IS obvious that the time which has elapsed
since their removal is as yet too short to ex
pect any considerable alteration Of cranial
con6guration. Many OF the negroes now
living in the West Indian islands are ma
lives OF Africa, and large proportion oil
the negro population both there and in the
United States, are removed by no more than
one or two descents from their Afican an
cestors. But according to the concurrent
testimony OF dsinterested obseI ven, both in
the West Indies aud in the United States,
an approximation in the negro phyiognomy
to the European model is progressively
taking place, in instances in which although
there has been no intermixture ofEufopean
blood. the influence Of higher dvilisation
has been powerfully exercised for very
heightened period. The case sf negroes
employed as domestic servants is particular.
ly noticed. DR.. Hancock, OF Guiana, even
asserts that it is frequently not at all diff
cult to distinguish negro of pure blood
belonging to the Dutch portion Of the colo
ny, from another belonging 10 the English
settlements, by the correspondence between
the features and the expression Of each, and
those which are characteristic Of their re-
spective masters. This alteration, too, is
not confined to a cttehge Of form in the
skull, or to the diminution of the projection
OF the upper jaw; but it is seen also in the
general figure, and in the form Of the soft
parts, as the lips and nose. And Mr.. Lyell
was assured, during his recent tour in Amer
lea, by numerous medical men residing in
the slave States, that gradual spproxima-
ton was taking place, in the confguration
OF the head and body OF the negroes, to the
European model, each successive generation
exhibiting an improvement inthese respects.
The change was most apparent in such as
are brought into closest and most habitual
relation with the whites las By domestic SER
vitnde), tcithoia any actual intermi1ture
Of raoes--a fact which the difference Of
complexion in the offspring would at once
betTay."
With respect to the black colour, we are
accustomed, continues the reviewer, "to
say that colour SIS only skin.deep;" but, in
point OF fact, 1t is not euen 1ia-deep. for it
does not reach the true skin, being entirely
confined to the epidennis or scarfskin. 1t
was formerly supposed that between the true
skin and scar(,skin there lay proper colour
ing layer, to which the term Tete mucosunl
was gwen: and it was imagined tina. this
layer was greatly developed in the dark
skinned races. but nearly wanting in those
Of fair complexion. This account Of it,
however, when submitted TO the test Of mi.
croscopic inquiry, has been found to be to-
tally incorrect. The rete mucosum has
been discovered to be nothing but the latest
layer ofepidermis, The inner surface ofwhch
is continually being renewed as the exterior
Is worn away, just like the berk Of troe
There is no distinct colouring layer, il ap-
pears, either in the fair or the dark skinned
races; the peculiar hue of the latter Deepen
ding upon the presence OF colouring matter
in the cells Of the epidermis itself. Now
that this colouring matter may be genera.
ted, even in the fairest skins, under the in
fluence Of light and warmth, We have ia
miliar proof in the summer freckle, which is
nothing else than a local production of that
which in some races is general. Persons
who have been much exposed to the direct
rays Of the sun become "tanned" or "sun.
burnt" in like manner, owing to the (oma-
ton Of colouring particles in the cells Of
the epidermis, which are usually almos,
colourless.'
To have established, by rigorous micro.
scopic inquiry, that the colour IN the negro
races is not inherently natural in thesystem
but casual, as if result Of sun.buning in
consecutive generations, is a fact Of great
importance. We hope that Investigations
on the increase and abatement of colour il
the human subject will continue 10 engage
the attention OF the learned. Meanwhile
it is gratifying TO know that what has beer
ascertaincd is vindicatory of negro improva
bility as regards either mental or plysica
qualities.