years, for the negre. A thirty fecond part of the whole color, upon this fuppofition is done away by fome other caufe, fay that of climate. If the whole effect had been produced by climate, and in this proportion, the time neceffary to have completed the effect would have been four thousand years. By the fame method of conjectural eftimation, the time neceffary to reduce the Indian to the European color, would be fix hundred years. The difficulty and uncertainty attending this method of forming an eftimate, is not that it can give the period of time too long, but that it af fumes what cannot be afcertained by obfervation. It is not, and probably cannot be made certain by obfervation, that a thirty fecond part of the negro color is done away by climate, or that it is done away at all, when the negro complexion is fuppofed to be completely changed. It is not probable that if a thirty fecond part of the dark color remained, it could be readily diftinguished by the eye. But uncertain as the data are, they are fufficient to how that the operation of climate, in any view in which the matter can be confidered, is extremely gradual and flow.

5. This influence of climate, whatever it is, may be increased, or it may be retarded, by the operation of other caufes. The color of the fkin may be affected and changed by other caufes, as well as by heat and cold. If there be any thing in the common method of living, in being conftantly exposed to the fun and wind, in the use of paint and oil, or in habitual cleanliness or filthinefs, that tends to darken, or to render the complexion more fair; this, may operate either with or against the influence of climate, according as the nature and tendency of fuch cuftom or practice may Be. And we ought not to afcribe that to, or make that any objection to the influence of climate, which may be derived from other caufes. Thus in Greenland, the influence of climate is in favor of a fair and white com plexion; but in the conftant application of grease, oil, and filthiness, to the human body, there is another and a more powerful cause to effect its' color, than climate; and which, acting in conftant oppofition to it, gives to the countenance a fallow or dirty olive complexion. Such causes may act with a force and power, equal or fuperior to that of climate; but they are not equally permanent, universal, or invariable. There is no error more common, or more apt to deceive us in contemplating the natural hiftory of man, than to afcribe that to one cause, which is derived from or produced by the joint operation of many. Whatever tends to render the fkin more or less tranfparent, will affect the color of the human species, as certainly as the climate in which they are placed.

COLOR AND CLIMATE OF THE INDIANS OF AMERICA.-There is no fubject in philofophy fo well understood, but that a number of queftions and inquiries may be proposed respecting it, which do not admit of a fatisfactory or complete answer. And this will always remain to be the cafe, because our knowledge of nature will never be equal or commenfu. rate to the subject. But there is one inquiry arifing here, which demands our careful attention: How does the climate and the color of the Indians of America agree with this, or with any other supposed law of climate ? The Indians were spread over the whole continent of America: They dwelt in every habitable climate from the equator to the pole: And they were of the fame color in every place. In the greatest heat under the equa tor, and in the fevereft climates of Canada and Hudfon's bay, they were of the fame brownish red:* This appears to be the proper Indian color in

It has been customary to write in this language, but we are far from being certain that it is either accurate, or proper. It has been taken for granted, but it has never been examined, whether the Indian color is

every part and climate of America. Are the climates of America different from thofe of the other continent? Or whence is it that the connexion which takes place between clinates and color in the other parts of the globe, is not to be found among the Indians? This curious phenomenon has occalioned much inquiry and fpeculation: Can the caules of it be found, in the obfervations which have been already mentioned ?

I. The Indian color is very evidently the mixture of black and red. The color, which an intense heat produces. upon all bodies to which it is applied, is black: And it is as natural to expect it should have this effect upon the human body, as upon any other bodies. The color which is produced upon the human body, by living much in the open air, expofed to the inAuence of the fun and wind, is red. The white men who live in fuch a fituation, always contract this color. That part of their bodies, which is exposed to the influence of the fun and wind, becomes of a reddifh color; or as it is commonly expreffed, they bo become tanned, or fun burnt; that is, they acquire a color formed by a mixture of red and white. This influence of the wind and fun, in producing the red complexion, is found to be much the fame in fummer and winter: The white man is nearly as much and as foon tanned, in the winter as in the fummer. It seems therefore that the production of this red color, does not depend upon climate, heat, or cold, but upon habit; the habit of living in the open air, and having the body expofed to the conftant influence of the fun and wind. The Indian color then feems to have been formed by the mixture of two different colors, black and red; and to have been derived from two powerful caufes, climate and habit: Caufes diftinct from one another, and the latter producing nearly the fame effect in every climate.

2. This color of the Indians was probably completely formed, when they first came into America. They were of the fame color as the Indians, and fouthern Tartars in Afia; and appear to have been defcended from them. Their color therefore was completely formed and fixed, before they came into America. This color feems to have been derived from the warm climate of Afia; and from the habit of living conftantly expofed to the fun, and to the open air. The color thus formed and fixed, they would naturally convey to their offspring. And as there were no other people with whom they could have any intercourfe, there could be no change or alteration of color, produced by a mixture of parents of different complex ions. Their color therefore must have been fettled, and uniform: And the whole effect of population must have been to fpread, propagate, and preferve it. The effect of climate then upon the Indian in America, would 1 not be to produce and form his color; but either to preferve, or to change it.

the fame in every part of America. An accurate and inquifitive obferver, M. de le Pinto, who commanded for feveral years at Matagroffa, a Portuguefe fettlement in the interior parts of Brazil, where the Indians are numerous, and not altered by their intercourse with the Europeans, noted a difference in their complexions: "They are all of a copper color, with fome diverfity of fhade, not in proportion to their diftance from the equator, but according to the degree of elevation of the territory which they inhabit. Those who live in a high country are fairer than thofe in the marshy, low lands on the coaft."-- Robertfon's Hift. Amer. I. 465. On the northwest part of the American continent, it has been found, that "the complexion of the Indians is lighter than that of the fouthern Indians, and fome of their women have roly cheeks."-Morle's Geog. 1. 99. 105. Edit. 1793, Of the Indians of Paraguay we have this account: "They are generally of an olive complexion, fome darker, others lighter, and fome as while as the Spaniards."-Ibid. p. 81.

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8. No part of the climate of America was fufficiently hot, to change it into an interfe black. It is only in the most intense heat of the hotteft climate, that the extreme black of the negro is formed. The climate of America under the line falls far fhort of this. "While the negro on the coaft of Africa is fcorched with unremitting heat, the inhabitant of Peru breathes an air equally mild and temperate, and is perpetually fhaded un der a canopy of grey clouds, which intercept the fierce beams of the fun."* The climate in every part of the torrid zone in America, is much more mild and temperate than the fame latitude in Africa or Afia. In a country where the hotteft climate is fo moderate, it is not to be expected that the Indian color fhould be changed into extreme black. No part of the climate was hot enough to produce this: And any fmall variation in the Indian countenance, would not be readily or easily discerned.

4. The change of color moft naturally to be expected would be of the contrary kind, not to black, but to white; at least to a lighter fhade than what took place under the equator. If there be any influence or tendency in extreme cold to produce a fair and white complexion, this might .have been expected; for there are no colder climates upon the face of the earth, than thofe of the northern parts of America. But whatever might be the influence of the climate to produce fuch a complexion, the Indians made use of feveral certain and conftant methods to prevent it. One, was their constant habit of living and wandering about in the woods, exposed to the full force of the winds and fun : Another, was their extreme and perpetual filth, and dirtinefs: A third, was their habitual use of grease and paint. It was their univerfal custom to anoint and rub their bodies with the greafe and oil of the bear, beaver, muskrat, and other animals; and to mix the greafe with different kinds of paints, and gums. This practice was probably defigned to protect the body against the extreme variations of heat, cold, and moisture, to which they were conftantly expofed. Nor could they have provided any better defence against heat, cold, rain, and infects, than thus to cover their bodies with a glutinous kind of varnish. And in doing this, they took a fure and a certain method, to fix and preferve their color from any approaches to a white, or to a fair complexion. When extreme dirtinefs was added to the greafe, oil, and paint, neither climate or any other caufe could produce a fair complexion, until these were removed and difufed. Thus in the Indian customs, and method of guarding the body against the effects of climate, the Indian himself was ta king conftant care that nothing fhould change the,color of his skin, or make it more traníparent.

5. Where thefe cuftoms have been difufed, the Indian color has been found to be changeable. It has never been decided whether the Indian color is exactly the fame in every part of America. No accurate comparifons have ever been made between the color of the Indians in the hottest parts under the equator, and those in the remote regions of Canada and Hudfon's bay. Their colors have never been compared to any accurate and known ftandard; and fmall variations in a dark complexion, would not be a matter of common obfervation. But whether the Indian color be the fame in every part of America, or not, it is certainly more changeable, and not fo deeply fixed, as that of the negro, Many families of the Indian tribes are to be found in feveral of our towns. Some of these are at Cape Cod, and Rhode Island: A confiderable number of them, are at Natic, and Stockbridge, in Maffachufetts. Their habits and manners of life are different from those of the Indians, who refide in the forefts. They live

Robertfon's Hift. America, I, 253.
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in houfes, have a fixed place of refidence, and have much difused the custom of paints and oils; and their complexion differs much from that of the tribes who yet remain in their ancient and original ftate. The reddish caft is abated. The tawny afpect appears more dull, pale, and clouded. The crimson mixture has difappeared, and they have approximated much near. er to the color of the hunter among the whites, than the tribes who retain their ancient customs and habits. This change of color in the Indians who have lived long among the whites, is apparent to common observation. And it is apparently derived from the change in their manners, customs, and habits. This change of the Indian complexion, clearly fhows what has been the effect of custom and habit.

6. In the northern parts of America, there are permanent phenomena, which will ferve alfo to fhow what has been the effect of climate. The Efquimaux in the northern parts of America, are a people remarkably different from the Indians, which occupy the other parts of the continent. There is not much room to doubt, but that they were derived from the northwest parts of Europe; are the fame people with the Greenlanders, Laplanders, Zemblans, and Samojeds; and like them, were descended from the Tartars in the east. Their defcent then was probably from the fame nation as the Indians. But while the Indian tribes have by custom, preferved their red complexion, the Efquimaux have acquired a fallow olive, or brownish color; more inclining to the European whiteness, than to the brownish red of the American. To what caufe can we afcribe the lighter color of this branch of the Tartar race, but to their more northerly and frozen fituation? They have adopted the fame customs and habits, as the Indians. They rub and anoint their bodies, with grease, the fat of the feal, and train oil; and are as filthy as the Indians. drink the fat of the feal, and their train oil, and esteem it the most pleasant Not only fo, but they liquor. Can it be doubted what must be the effect upon their color? It operates against the influence of climate, in that part of the earth where climate operates most powerfully to produce a white complexion. The influence of the two caufes is divided, but the balance is in favor of climate, and the European complexion. Thus in two very extensive and numerous kinds of men, derived from the fame nation, climate, custom, and habit, in one part of America, have produced or preferved the dark crimson of the Indian; but in the most northerly and frozen parts of the continent, the fame caufes have etablished the fallow olive color of the Efquimaux, more refembling the European whiteness, than the Indian red. Upon a careful attention then, to the colors and cuftoms of the original inhabitants of America, the phenomena feem to confirm the general connec tion which has taken place between climate and color, in the various parts of the other hemifphere.

This part of the natural hiftory of man, feems to be but very imperfectly understood. The great difficulty that attends it, is the want of ancient and accurate accounts. It does indeed feem to be pretty well determined, that the color of the white man is cafily, and foon changed, to a dark complexion: And that the color of the Indian is changeable, into a lighter complexion. But no relations which I have feen afford the fame information, refpe&ting the changes of the African black. Nor can I find any phenomena or accounts which ferve to afcertain the matter, and put it out of all doubt, whether there has been any change in the color of the negroes, which have been brought into any part of America. Nor is it certain that any fuch apparent alteration of the negro color, ought upon any hypothefis to have been expected, in the course of four or five generations. And yet, until fome of thefe facts fhall be afcertained, we can hardly expect that the laws of

nature which apply to this fubject, will be underflood. Impatient of the fatigue of inquiry, collecting and comparing phenomena, fome philofo. phers, with great precipitation, have pretended to decide it by fyftem. To folve all difficulties it has been declared by fome, that there are different ereations, and races of men: That the white man is one kind, the negro another, and the Indian a third, &c. The bufinefs of making fyftems for nature, has feldom anfwered any other purpose, than to difcover the prefumption of thofe, who have made them. It has proved fo in this cafe. If there had been as many local creations as there are individuals, this would not afford us any information, or enable us to advance one flep, towards a folution of the problem refpecting the colors of different men. Still the inquiries would remain, what is the feat of color in these different men? Why do the rays of light appear of fuch different colors, upon the fkins of the one, and the other? Why does one color appear most common in a hot, and another color prevail the moft in a cold climate? And how is the change of color produced by marriage and mixture? Instead of a mufing ourselves with theories that are attended with no evidence, and can be of no use, what is wanted in this fubject, is careful and accurate obfervations. These will indeed require a long courfe of time, and abilities very different from thofe, which decide by metaphyfical disputes and fpeculations. But it is the only method, in which we have any reason to expect our knowledge of this fubject will be promoted.

No. VI.

GARRANGULA'S SPEECH :

A fpecimen of Indian policy, eloquence, and manners. CHAP. IX. P. 275.

IN the year 1684, De la Barre, governor of Canada, marched into the Indian country, with an army of feventeen hundred men. His objec was to destroy the five nations. Sicknels and famine wafted his army, and he wished to conclude the campaign with a treaty of peace. To ef fect his purpose, he made a fpeech to the Indians, in which he informed them that he came into their country, with no other view than to make peace; that his mafter was offended with their former conduct, but would forgive them, if they would obferve the terms that he had prescribed; but if they would not fubmit to his prescriptions, he had orders to declare war against them, to burn their castles, and put them all to death.

Garrangula, an Onondago Sachem, heard thefe threats with contempt. He knew the diftreffed ftate of the French army, and that it was wholly out of their power to execute their defigns. He walked five or fix times round the circle, and then anfwered the French governor, who fat in an elbow chair, furrounded by his officers, in the following manner. "YONNONDIO,*

'I honor you, and the warriors that are with me likewise honor you. Your interpreter has finished your fpeech; I now begin mine. My words make hafte to reach your ears; hearken to them.

Yonnondio was the name, by which the Indians always addreffed the governor of Canada; Corlear was their phrafe, when fpeaking to the gov ernor of New York.