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Show 320 BLUSHING. CHAP. XIII. negro to appear blacker, instead of, as with us, redder.16 The skin, perhaps, from being rendered more tense by the filling of the capillaries, would reflect a somewhat different tint to what it did before. That the capillaries of the face in the negro become filled with blood, under the emotion of shame, we may feel confident; because a perfectly characterized albino negress, described by Buff on, 17 showed a faint tinge of crimson on her cheeks when she exhibited herself naked. Cicatrices of the skin remain for a long time white in the negro, and Dr. Burgess, who had frequent opportunities of observing a scar of this kind on the face of a negress, distinctly saw that it " invariably became red '' whenever she was abruptly spoken to, or charged with •' any trivial offence." 18 The blush -coulrl be seen proceeding from the circumference of the scar towards the middle, but it did not reach the centre. Mulattoes are often great blushers, blush succeeding blush over their faces. From these facts there can be no doubt that negroes blush, although no redness is visible on the , skin. I am assured by Gaika and by Mrs. Barber that the Kafirs of South Africa never blush; but this may only mean that no change of colour is distinguishabje. Gaika adds that under the circumstances which would make a European blush, his countrymen " look ashamed to '' keep their heads up." 1s See, on this head, Burgess, ibid. p. 32. Also Waitz, ' Introduction to Anthropology,' Eng. edit. vol. i. p. 135. Moreau gives a detailed account (' LaYater,' 1820, tom. iv. p. 302) of the blushing of a Madagascar negress-slave when forced by her brutal master to exhibit her naked bosom. 11 Quoted by Prichard, Phys. Hist. of Mankind, 4th edit. 1851, vol. i. p. 225. 18 Burge~s, ibid. p. 31. On mulattoes blushing, see p. 33. I Lase recci ved similar accounts with respect to mulattoes. CHAP. XIII. BLUSHING. 321 It is asserted by four of my informants that the Australians, who are almost as black as negroes never Llush. A fifth answers doubtfully, remarkin~ that only ~ very strong blu h could be seen, on account of the dirty state of their skins. Three observers state ~hat t!1ey do blush; 19 Mr. S. vVilson adding that this Is noticeable only under a stronrr emotion and when the skin is not too dark fro;; long e~posure and want of cleanliness. 1\Ir. Lanrr answers "I have " noti.c e d t h at shan1e almost alwt)a ys excite' s a blush "which frequently extends as low as the ueck." Sha1n~ is also shown, as be adds, "by the eyes bein()' turned "f .d ·a , rom SI e to s1 e. As l\Ir. Laug was a teb acher in a ~1ative school, it is probable that he chiefly observed children; and we know that they blush more than adults. l\fr. G. Taplin has seen half-castes blushing, and he says that the aborigines have a word expressive of shame. 1\ir. Hagenauer, who is one of those who has never observed the .Australians to blush, says that he has "seen theu1 looking down to the ground on "account of shame;" and the missionary, Mr. Bulmer, remarks that though "I have not been able to detect "anything like shame in the adult aborio-ines I have " no tI' ce d t h at t h e eyes of the children, whb en as' hamed " presen t a rest1 e ss, watery appearance, as if they did' "not know where to look." . ~rhe facts now given are sufficient to show that blushlng, whether or not there is any change of colour, is common to most, probably to all, of the races of man. Movenwnts and gestures which accompany Blushing.Und r a keen sen .... e f shame there is a strong desire 19 Barrington ulso sa.ys that the Au~:~tl'uliana of N cw South w 1 blush, as quoted by Wuitz, ibid. p. 1B5. 11 es y |
