THE RACES OF MAN. 217 



instances have been recorded.* The immunity of civilized 

 races and domesticated animals is probably due to their 

 having been subjected to a greater extent, and, therefore, 

 having grown somewhat more accustomed, to diversified or 

 varying conditions, than the majority of wild animals; and 

 to their having formerly immigrated or been carried from 

 country to country, and to different families or sub-races 

 having inter-crossed. It appears that a cross with civilized 

 races at once gives to an aboriginal race an immunity from 

 the evil consequences of changed conditions. Thus the 

 crossed offspring from the Tahitians and English, when 

 settled in Pitcairn Island, increased so rapidly that the 

 island was soon overstocked; and in June, 1856, they were 

 removed to Norfolk Island. They then consisted of 

 60 married persons and 134 children, making a total of 

 194. Here they likewise increased so rapidly that, 

 although 16 of them returned to Pitcairn Island in 1859, 

 they numbered in January, 1868, 300 souls; the males and 

 females being in exactly equal numbers. What a contrast 

 does this case present with that of the Tasmanians; the 

 Norfolk Islanders increased in only twelve and a half years 

 from 194 to 300; whereas the Tasmanians decreased during 

 15 years from 120 to 46, of which latter number only 10 

 were children, f 



So again in the interval between the census of 1866 and 

 1872 the natives of full blood in the Sandwich Islands 

 decreased by 8,081, while the half-castes, who are believed 

 to be healthier, increased by 847; but I do not know 

 whether the latter number includes the offspring from 

 the half-castes, or only the half-castes of the first genera- 

 tion. 



The cases which I have here given all relate to aborigines 

 who have been subjected to new conditions as the result of 

 the immigration of civilized men. But sterility and ill- 

 health would probably follow if savages were compelled by 

 any cause, such as the inroad of a conquering tribe, to 

 desert their homes and to change their habits. It is an 



*" Variation of Animals," etc., vol. ii, p. 16. 



\ These details are taken from " The Mutineers of the ' Bounty,' " 

 by Lady Belcher, 1870; and from "Pitcairn Island," ordered to be 

 printed by the House of Commons, May 29, 1863. The following 

 statements about the Sandwich Islanders are from the "Honolulu 

 Gazette," and from Mr. Coan. 



