Excerpt from The Death of St Thomas, Black Men and Gods, Marco Polo
For when boys or girls are born in this province you must know that they are born black, but not as black as they are made afterwards. Because it is true that when the infant is born he is born fair; but they anoint him once every week with sesame oil and that is how they make them become more black than they were born a great deal, so that they become as black as a devil. For I tell you that in that country he who is more black is more precious than the others in beauty and is held better than the others who are not so black. And again I tell you another thing. For I tell you quite truly that they make those people have all their gods and their idols portrayed and painted very black, and the devils they paint white as snow. For they say that God and all the saints are black; and they speak of their God and of their saints; and they say that the devils are white. And so they portray and paint them in such a way as you have heard; and again I tell you that they make images of idols all black. And you may now that the men ..
1The prevailing fashion or style at a particular time.
1Darkish in colour.
Really, Vogue?
Really, Vogue?