COLOUR IN THE SIXTH RACE By M. R. ST. JOHN THEOSOPHICAL Students cannot fail to be interested in every indication that augurs a change in the Race, that is a change from the present fifth sub-race type into something different, something distinctive. The appearance of a new type in America has been verified by more than one anthropologist of that great country, and Bishop Leadbeater has already given his opinion that a similar change is taking place in Australia and New Zealand. From even a cursory observation it is obvious that this is so, for the signs and portents are to be seen there in very many of those who form the rising generation, and who are in many cases not only different in facial characteristics and cranial development from their parents but seem to be striking out on a line of their own. Yet in all that has so far been written on the subject, no mention has been made of that most important item "colour," this omission giving rise to the very natural inference that the next race will be what is termed a "white" one. But it seems highly probable that this inference will be falsified, for, since the next Root-race will be inhabiting a part of the world the climate of which will range from sub-tropical to tropical, it stands to reason that skins of a hue more suited to the higher temperatures and stronger actinic solar radiations would surely be a desideratum, if not a necessity. Never has it been found otherwise than that the inhabitants of the regions nearer the equatorial line are dark-skinned, and those of the more northern and colder latitudes fair. With this in view, it is not unwarrantable to assume that at least a very considerable portion of the sixth sub-race, those inhabiting the sub-tropical regions, will be a moderately darkskinned people, varying from the olive tints of Southern Europe to a more distinctive golden brown colour, not unlike what is believed to have been the colour of the inhabitants of ancient Egypt; this does not necessarily imply that the hair and eyes would be dark, for, in those respects, Australians are mainly of the fair type. Although this is merely put forward as an opinion, it is greatly strengthened by what is actually taking place in parts of Queensland and New South Wales to-day. In the course of a conversation the writer had with a man who had lived for several years in the "bush," the question arose as to the necessity or otherwise of importing coloured labour into Northern Queensland, bearing in mind that the present policy of the Australian Government is to keep it solely a white man's land and exclude all coloured peoples. He was of opinion that in a couple of generations or so the children would be born with bodies suitable to cope with the conditions found in the Torrid Zone, that they were, in fact, even now very nearly ready to cope with them. As to colour, he said that he had seen children who had been born with skins darker than that of either of their parents, and where there was no question of admixture; such children did not appear to be adversely affected by the sun and the intense heat to any appreciable extent, going about hatless and seemingly indifferent to conditions and environment which would be intensely trying to a visitor from colder climes. This information was corroborated from other sources, and the appearance of the people inhabiting the country more or less remote from the towns confirms it. But I was hardly prepared to find that in the city of Sydney a considerable number of the young people of both sexes are engaged, during the summer months of the year, in a friendly rivalry of artificial or rather accelerated pigmentation, for, in fact, they are quite seriously engaged in the task of making their skins as brown as possible, prizes being offered in some cases for the most perfectly browned man or girl. In short, these surf bathers are adopting almost the identical methods employed by the ancient Greeks who, in order to harden their bodies, exposed them naked to the elements, to the sea, the air and the sun, anointing their skins with oil, so that the solar rays should turn them brown without any risk of blistering. In all the bathing-resorts there are to be seen the young Australians of both sexes, browning themselves in the sun's rays, until in process of time they become all over of a lovely golden brown; and, although this wears off to a certain extent during the cooler months of the year, the process is repeated summer after summer, until the change in the pigment has become relatively permanent. Dark-hued people beget dark-hued children, for, while this artificial acceleration of a natural process is not the same as an acquired characteristic, hereditary traits disprove the theory that the latter are non-transmittable, for family characteristics must have been acquired by a forbear at some time or another. But what of the future-the future of these fine peoples of Australia and New Zealand? Will they be able to continue to carry on their exclusive policy and keep free from admixture with others of a different race? Will they be able to increase fast enough, with the help of a steady immigration from the mother country? So far, the increase in population has been far too slow, but the future of the two great Dominions of the Southern Seas is in the Manu's hands, and who shall say what His plan may be? M. R. St. John ADYAR October 15th, 1921 THERE was a beauty laugh'd from thee, this morn, Such, and yet how much more! Thy groves and flowers, Bright river and pure skies-these have their part In thy commingled charm. Yet are there Powers Whose Presence binds thee nearer to each heart. This is our Home-and yet it is not ours! E. A. WODEHOUSE |