Ethnographic Bureau for South Africa. 167 



collectively spoken of as "coloured people." It is probably only 

 by the unbiassed statistics of the ethnographer, based on careful and 

 unprejudiced study of these races according to anthropological 

 standards, that their real merits and demerits will be understood, 

 and that we will be able to assign to them the sphere in the community 

 that they are best fitted to fill. There are already two versions of 

 the " half-caste " case. The popular idea, as expounded by the 

 " mean white " all over the world, is that the mixed races combine 

 all the worst qualities of both parent stocks. On the other hand, 

 there are not wanting statements to the contrary. We have the 

 opinion of a distinguished ethnologist (Dr. Robert Dunn) in '* The 

 Unity of the Human Species " (1861), that half-castes very generally 

 combine the best attributes of the two races from which they originate. 

 A means could probably be devised to test both these views by applying 

 some of the methods which have been employed in Europe to 

 elucidate the effects of cross-breeding in animals. 



South Africa spends many thousands a year on scientific investi- 

 gations which have a bearing on the problems of agricultural develop- 

 ment. We maintain -Geological Surveys and Marine Biological 

 Departments to advise us as to the development of our mineral 

 resources and our fisheries. We claim to be an eminently practical 

 people. 



But ask any man in the street " what is the great problem of 

 South Africa?" Nine out of ten will answer, not agriculture, not 

 the future of the mineral industry, or any other industry, but " the 

 native question." And vet that is the one problem to the elucidation 

 of which we have not vet applied the resources of natural science ! 



A Federal Bureau of Ethnology would not necessarily require 

 a larger staff than that which I have indicated. It would cost less 

 by far than one department of agriculture, and not much more than 

 a Colonial Geological Survey. The contribution from each Colony 

 would be an insignificant sum, the abstract gain to science, and the 

 practical gain to the white people of South Africa would be enormous. 



If I have appeared to unduly emphasise the practical and 

 political value of a bureau of ethnology, it is because T cannot help 

 thinking that had this aspect of the case been thoroughly realised, 

 such a bureau would already be in existence at the present day. 



