DISTINCTIVE PECULIARITIES OF THE RACES OF MAN. 83 



gour, and in the tendency to multiply, the parent races from which they are 

 produced, so as to gain ground upon the older varieties, and gradually to su- 

 persede them. In this manner, by the crossing of the breeds of our domes- 

 ticated animals, many new and superior varieties have been produced. The 

 general principle is, then, that beings of distinct species, or descendants from 

 stocks originally different, cannot produce a mixed race, which shall possess 

 the capability of perpetuating itself; whilst the union of varieties has a tend- 

 ency to produce a" race superior in energy and fertility to its parents. 



76. The application of this principle (if it be admitted as such) to the Hu- 

 man races, leaves no doubt with respect to their specific unity ; for, as is well 

 known, not only do all the races of Men breed freely with each other, but the 

 mixed race is generally superior in physical development, and in tendency to 

 rapid multiplication, to either of Use parent stocks ; so that there is much rea- 

 son to believe that, in many countries, the mixed race between the Aborigines 

 and European colonizers will ultimately become the dominant power in the 

 community. This is especially the case in India and South America. 



77. Not less conclusive is the result of the test, furnished by agreement 

 or difference in psychological characters. Among the lower animals, we find 

 every species characterised by the possession of instincts and propensities 

 peculiar to itself; and these instincts often differ remarkably in species, which 

 present the closest structural alliance. On the other hand, in the several 

 varieties of domesticated animals, notwithstanding their strongly-marked di- 

 versities of physical structure, we may recognize instincts which are fun- 

 damentally the same, although they have been modified by the continued 

 influence of Man, and by the new circumstances in which the animals are 

 placed. Now from an impartial survey of the psychological characters of the 

 different races of Men, so far as our present knowledge extends, the follow- 

 ing conclusion may be drawn. " We contemplate, among all the diversified 

 tribes, who are endowed wijh reason and speech, the same internal feelings, 

 appetencies, and aversions; the same inward convictions, the same sentiments 

 of subjection to invisible powers, and (more or less fully developed) of ac- 

 countableness or responsibility to unseen avengers of wrong and agents of 

 retributive justice, from whose tribunal men cannot even by death escape. 

 We find everywhere the same susceptibility, though not always in the same 

 degree of forwardness or ripeness of improvement, of admitting the cultiva- 

 tion of those universal endowments, of opening the eyes of the mind to the 

 more clear and luminous views which Christianity unfolds, of becoming 

 moulded to the institutions of religion and of civilised life : in a word, the 

 same inward and mental nature is to be recognized in all the races of men.* 



6 



6. On the Comparative Peculiarities of the Different Races of Mankind. 



78. We have now to inquire, fifthly and lastly, whether it is possible, after 

 a detailed and careful examination of the ensemble of the characters of the 

 different races of Men, to make any division of them into distinct groups, 

 capable of being defined by such constant and well-marked features, as shall 

 entitle them to be regarded in the light of distinct species. The general re- 

 sults, only, of this inquiry, can here be given ; and this in a very summary 

 manner. They will be almost entirely drawn from the profound and labo- 

 rious investigations of Dr. Prichard. 



79. The characters which are most relied on for the discrimination of the 

 several races of Mankind, are the colour of the skin, the nature of the hair, 

 and the conformation of the skull and other parts of the skeleton. The Co- 



* Prichard's Natural History of Man, p. 546. 



