394 ORIGIN AND TRANSMISSION. 



rearing our more valuable animals. Yet^ In the human 

 species, where the object is of such consequence, the prin- 

 ciple is almost entirely overlooked. Hence all the native 

 deformities of mind and body, which spring up so plentifully 

 in our artificial mode of life, are handed down to posterity, 

 and tend, by their multiplication and extension, to degrade 

 the race. Consequently, the mass of the population in our 

 large cities will not bear a comparison with that of savage 

 nations, in which, if imperfect or deformed individuals should 

 survive the hardships of their first rearing, they are pre- 

 vented by the kind of aversion they inspire from propaga- 

 ting their deformities. The Hottentots have become almost 

 proverbial for ugliness ; and one of their tribes, the Bosjes- 

 men^ are plainly ranked by an acute, and intelligent travel- 

 ler " among the ugliest of human beings *." The nume- 

 rous sketches of Bosjesmen and Hottentots taken by Mr. 

 S. Daniel, have been very kindly and politely shewn to me 

 by his brother Mr. W. Daniel. In form, variety, and ex- 

 pression of countenance, they are not at all inferior to our 

 cockneys; while, in animation, in beauty, symmetry and 

 strength of body, in ease and elegance of attitude they are 

 infinitely superior. 



This inattention to breed is not, however, of so much 

 consequence in the people, as in the rulers ; in those to 

 whom the destinies of nations are intrusted ; on whose quali- 

 ties and actions depend the present and future happiness 

 of millions. Here, unfortunately, the evil is at its height : 

 laws, customs, prejudices, pride, bigotry, confine them to 

 intermarriages with each other ; and thus degradation of 

 race is added to all the pernicious influences inseparable 

 from such exalted stations. What result should we expect, 

 if a breeder of horses or dogs were restricted in his choice to 

 some ten or twenty families taken at random ? if he could 

 not step out of this little circle, to select finely-formed or 

 high-spirited individuals ? How long a time w^ould elapse 

 before tlie fatal eff'ects of this in-breeding would be con- 



* Barrow, Travels in Southern Jfrica; v. i. p. 277, 



