A ye We a Declining Race ? 



should decline under such a systematic demoralis- 

 ing influence ! 



" It is now known that some animals are cap- 

 able of reproduction at a very early age, before 

 they have acquired their perfect characters ; and 

 if this power becomes thoroughly well developed 

 in a species it seems probable that the adult 

 stage of development would sooner or later be 

 lost ; and in this case, especially if the larva 

 differed much from the mature form, the character 

 of the species would be greatly changed and de- 

 graded." (Darwin : " Origin of Species.") 



I think we may accept this view of Darwin as 

 carrying some weight even with the human 

 species, and when we consider that the smaller 

 and weaker races of mankind are generally those 

 who marry early in life, we may place some 

 confidence in the theory. 



The Malays, Veddahs, Andamanese, Siamese, 

 Javanese, etc., all marry-between the ages of 

 eleven and seventeen, and are all of diminutive 

 stature. 



On the other hand, we find among savage 

 races, where from various reasons, marriage is 

 delayed until later in life, the men are, as a rule, 

 robust and strong. Among the Zulus, for in- 

 stance, "Young men who are without cattle have 

 often to wait many years before getting married." 

 (Westermarck.) 



Among the Bechuanas, " the youth is not 

 allowed to take a wife until he has killed a 

 rhinoceros." (Livingstone.) So that they are not 

 likely to marry very early. 



Among the wild Indians of British Guiana 



