146 THE PROBABLE FUTURE OF THE HUMAN RACE./ 



and volcauic or coral islands forming, there will remain a few points 

 inhabited by man ; but of the isolation of their condition it is di£Qcult to 

 form an idea. 



Before this extreme period, that events impossible to predict may 

 still further remove, we should imagine the human species deprived 

 gradually of the treasures of coal and the metals to-day within reach, 

 and obliged to concentrate themselves upon terrestrial surfaces less in 

 extent and insulated, as they apparently have already existed in very 

 ancient geological times. The scarcity of the combustibles and of the 

 metals would render communication difficult. The depression of the 

 mountain-chains would diminish the condensation of aqueous vapors, 

 and increase the extent of sterile regions, and countries now fertile would 

 become like those in the interior of Australia. During this period, the 

 populations would greatly diminish, but intelligence and morality, per- 

 haps, having increased, this reduction would not be produced, as now, 

 by a frightful mortality among the improvident, and still more horrible 

 accessories, such as infanticide and war. Man may be, for example, in 

 such a condition as to be able to control the proportion of masculine and 

 feminine births, which is not at all improbable, according to the exam- 

 ple of other organized species. The result would be an increasing 

 rarity of females, and a considerable diminution of births. 



In proportion as the continents, deprived of mountains, become dry 

 in the interior, or divided into archipelagoes, the people will become 

 more and more maritime. From the sea they will be obliged to draw 

 the greater part of the means of subsistence; but they will have to 

 struggle against the encroachments of its waves. The intelligent and 

 persevering will then be the best adapted to the circumstances ; and, in 

 spite of their isolation, and the difficulties of navigation, they may still 

 prosper. They may even enjoy the well-being which results from a 

 peaceable existence ; for at this time, without metals or combustibles, it 

 would be difficult to form squadrons to dominate the seas, and grand 

 armies to ravage the land. 



The mingling of the old races will be arrested by the separation of 

 the terrestrial surfaces into small portions, and by the increasing diffi- 

 culty of communication. What remains of the at present three princi- 

 pal races will probably be greatly dispersed. The islands of the north- 

 ern and southern regions being exposed to the more or less periodical 

 invasion of ice, and having no contiguity with lands better situated, the 

 white race, which will have continued longer here than in the equatorial 

 regions, will be that which will suffer the most. In the central archi- 

 pelagoes, the colored races, remaining as pure as at present, on account 

 of natural selection during their long isolation, will fare better. 



To recapitulate, our period and that which will follow for the next 

 thousand years will be characterized by a great increase in population, 

 a mingling of races, and a prosperity more or less marked. Then will 

 probably follow a long period of diminution of population, of separation of 



