nt to be, but rather for the most part of a Darkish Brown; And
the Physician to the Embassadour with whom those _Russes_ came, being ask'd
by me whether in _Muscovy_ it self the Generality of the People were more
inclin'd to have Dark-colour'd Hair than Flaxen, he answer'd Affirmatively;
but seem'd to suspect that the True and Antient _Russians_, a Sept of whom
he told me he had met with in one of the Provinces of that vast Empire,
were rather White like the _Danes_, than any thing near so Brown as the
present _Muscovites_ whom he guesses to be descended of the _Tartars_, and
to have inherited their Colour from them.] But to Prosecute our former
Discourse, I shall add for further Proof of the Conjecture I was
countenancing that good Authors inform us that there are _Negroes_ in
_Africa_ not far from the _Cape of good Hope_, and consequently beyond the
Southern Tropick, and without the Torrid Zone, much about the same Northern
Latitude (or very little more) wherein there are divers _American_ Nations
that are not _Negroes_, and wherein the Inhabitants of _Candia_, some parts
of _Sicily_, and even of _Spain_ are not so much as Tawny-Mores. But (which
is a fresh and strong Argument against the common Opinion,) I find by our
recent Relations of _Greenland_ (our Accounts whereof we owe to the
Curiosity of that Royal _Virtuoso_ the present King of _Denmark_,) that the
Inhabitants are Olive-colour'd, or rather of a Darker Hiew. But if the Case
were the same with Men, and those other kinds of Animals I formerly nam'd,
I should offer something as a considerable proof, That, Cold may do much
towards the making Men White or Black, and however I shall let down the
Observation as I have met with it, as worthy to come into the History of
Whiteness and Blackness, and it is, that in some parts of _Russia_ and of
_Livonia_ it is affirm'd by _Olaus Magnus_ and others, that Hares and Foxes
(some add Partridges) which before were Black, or Red, or Gray, do in the
depth of Winter become White by reason of the great Cold; (for that it
should be, as some conceive, by Looking upon the Snow, seems improbable
upon divers accounts) And I remember that having purposely enquir'd of a
_Virtuoso_ who lately Travell'd through _Livonia_ to _Mosco_ concerning the
Truth of this Tradition, he both told me, he believ'd it, and added, that
he saw divers of those lately nam'd Animals either in _Russia_ or
_Livonia_, (for I do not very well remember whether of th