"CAN THE ETHIOPIAN CHANGE HIS SKIN."

Tuapeka Times, Volume III, Issue 208, 25 January 1872, Page 6

"CAN THE ETHIOPIAN CHANGE HIS SKIN."

A correspondent of the Norfolk " Journal," writing from Rich Square, North Carolina, relates the following :

"We have near this place the most' perfect and mysterious living curiosity ever known in this or any other coun-

try. It is a case which might justly attract the attention and study of naturalists to account for so strange a freak of nature. A negro boy (born upon the plantation of Mr. John Devereux), whose parents are perfectly black, was, at the time of his birth, also black, and remained so until about eight years old, when, without sickness or any other apparent cause, white spots began to make their appearance upon those parts of his body hidden by clothing, and continued to spread until he was about eighteen years of age, when he became perfectly white all over, except his face and hands, these retaining their natural black color. About this, time white spots appeared npon his hands, which have continued to grow larger ever since, and witt no doubt in a few years more entirely cover these members, making him a complete- white negro instead of the " spotted negro " by which he is now generally known. The negro is frequently met -upon the public roads, and a more frightful object in the shape of a human being was never seen, bjs I whole face being alternately interspei*sed with large blotches of black and white. He is now about twenty-two years old, and has enjoyed remarkably good health, never having been sick a day in his life, except a few chills, which are common to all persons on the Roanoke. Hundreds of persons of this, vicinity can vouch for the above facts, and the negro himself can be seen at any time.