aquiline. Some are comparatively fair, and others quite
black, but a dark brown complexion is most common, with.
black eyes and hair. The general expression? of the countenance
reminds you that the Hindoo is mild and timid,
rather disposed to melancholy and to effeminate pleasures.
In Bengal the greatest number are below the middle stature,
and very slender in body ; but tins desciiption dpe^ pot
altogether suit the Hindoos of the upper provinces, where
you immediately perceive that you are surrounded by a
people more robust and indépendant, though the general
features are the same.”
From the statements of these writers we are assured;
that the deepness of colour among the Hindoos has some
relation to climate and to exposure to its influence. But
this is a subject of controversy and requires some investigation.
The deep blackness of somejjgj Hindoos produced a
strong impression on Bishop Heher. He seems, to have'
been unprepared to find natives ©f India as black as the
African Negroes, and equally so to witness thp variety
which displays itself in others. On his first entrance into
the Hoogly river he described the . crew of a vessel , as
“ extremely black, but well made, with good countenances
and fine features, certainly a handsome race.” The crew
of another vessel were, as he says, of the darkest shade
of antique bronze; this, together with the elegant forms
and well-turned limbs of many of them, gavb perfectly
the impression of Grecian statues of that metal. “ This
deep bronze,” he observes,- “ is more naturally agreeable
to the human eye than the fair skin of Europe, since it
was not displeasing to us even in the first instance, whereas
a fair complexion gives to Hindoos the idea of ill-health.
In adverting to the diversity of colour observed among
the Hindoos, Bishop Heber has made some very sensible
observations, which seem to set this matter in its true
light. He says, “ the great difference in colour between
different natives struck me much. Of the crowd by whom
we were surrounded, some were black as Negroes, others
* Wade’s Account of the HincM religion, See,
merely copper-coloured, and others little darker than the
Tunisines whom I have seen at Liverpool. Mr. Mill, the
principal of Bishop’s College, who, with Mr. Corrie, one
of the Chaplains in the Company’s Service, had come
down to meet me, and who has seen more of India than
most men, tells me that he cannot account for this difference,
which is general throughout the country and everywhere
striking. It is not merely the difference of exposure,
since this variety of tint is visible in the fishwomen who
are naked all alike. Nor does it depend on caste, since
very high caste Brahmans are sometimes black, while
Parriahs are comparatively fair. It seems, therefore, to be
an accidental difference,-like that of light and dark complexions;
in* Europe, though where so much of the body
is Exposed to light it becomes more striking here than
in our own country.” | , N|
One of the facts here stated is particularly worthy of
remark. It is, that great varieties of colour exist within
the limits of the same caste. It has been commonly said,
that the Brahmans are universally of light complexion
compared with the rest of the community; and this assertion
is great part of the evidence adduced in support of
the notion, that they are a people of different origin from
the Hfndoos in general; that is, a northern tribe who conquered
all the rest and imposed on them their language,
preserving still in India, after many centuries, their original
complexion. But if some genuine Brahmans of high and
pure caste are; black, which is the fact* this whole system
of conjecture falls to the ground, or must be so modified
as to change entirely its bearing on the physical history
of the race. The Brahmans are generally of lighter
colour than the low castes, but this is subject to exceptions.
The agency of external causes on breeds of animals, and on
races of men, is not uniform if we regard individuals.
The influence of external conditions is more favourable to
the developement of one variety than another, and its
•» The portrait of Ram-Mohun-Roy at the beginning of the preceding volume
displays the countenance of a very dark Brahman. Ram-Mohun-Roy was much
darker than many Africans.