The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-07-16
shade. covers most Of Asia the northern third

| shade covers most Of Asia, the northern third
OF Africa and Brazil. including a number Of
| widely dispersed peoples such as the Lapps.
| the EsdumauS. the Hottcntots and Bushmen
| OF South Africa and most Of the people OF Ma
laysiu. Among these the skin varies from a
dull leather color to n golden or bun tint or
muddy white. Africa contains all three types
Of color from tho black Dinkns to the yellow
Hottentots. In Asia and the Americas all
tlnts obtain except the jet black. The
fourth color group, which Is the spe-
cial subject Of study IN tho fourth chap
ter Of this volume. Is highly concentrated in
the geographical sense. It forms the so-callcd
white race, although many Of its members arc
almost brown ami often yellow In skin color.
The detorminant really characteristic OF this
group Is not the skin at all. but the pigmenta-
ton Of the hair and eyes. So far as the skin
may be used In classification. tho very light
shades u IL are restricted TO Europe includ-
INK. OF course. that part oi northern Africa
north " the Sahara which. GeOlogically, belongs
to the northern continent. There Ia u narrow
belt Of rather light-sknned peoDles running
OF to the southeast in Asia. and there includ-
ing the PorsianS and some high-class Hindus.
This orshoot vanlshes in the Gangcs Valley In
the prevailing dark skin OF the aboriginal in
habitants Of India. The only entirely isolated
example Of very light skin elsewhere occurs
among the Amos in northern japan. but the
Amos are so few In number. and. in other re-
spccts. so abnormal. that DR., Ripley dismisses
them from consideration.
What is the cause Of the differences in tho
color Of the skin? Some anthropologi~ts have
asserted that they nre the direct effect NJ heat.
but an examination II all the races or the earth
disrlosne 10 CORE prulenrc in IA" color Of the
skin with isothermal lines. Tho Chinese have
, AL, Of Ci,,,y In
srhatkl. Other scientists have endenvored to
connect augmentation OF the skin with humid
ity or with heat and humidity combined. but In
Africa the only Ict-black negroes are to be
found in Tho dry region near the Sahara Desert.
while the inha hitants Of the Congo Basin. one
Of the most humid regions on the globe, are
Il stinctly lighter in tint. Others again
have sought to prove that the dark color
may Toe due to the influence OF the tropical sun
or to uNygenation taking place under the slim
ula'ton Of exposure to solar rays. There Is
this 10 he said for this hypothesis. that the
color which appears in tanning or freckles Is
not to he distinguished rhysioloGically from
the pigment which forms in the main body Of
the skin of the darker races. The objection Is
that. among the darker races. the covered pOr-
lions OF the body are no less black than the
exposed ones. II is further to be noted that
certain groups Of men whose lives are pecul
iAry scdcntary. such us the Jews. who have
srcnt much OF their time for centuries within
doors. az distinctly darker than other races
whose occupations keep them in the open air.
This holds true o' the tropics as VOL as IF the
northern part of Europe Moreover. the local
cooratiou which is Observed in tanning and
which is due to the direct influence Of tho sun
is not hereditary. as far as can be determined.
and n sailors children are not darker than n
= 81
have followed tn" same calling. Each Of these
theories taken by itself has failed as an en-
planatNn. In Dr. Rip!rys opinion the best
working hypothesis is that the coloration Is due
TO the combined Influences OF q great number
otcnvironment factors working through physi-
illogical processes. none OF which. however. can
b. isolated from the others. One fact is es-
tahshcd. whatever the cause may be. namely.
that this characteristic. color. has been very
slowly acquired. and has become exceedingly
persistent in the several races.