THE HUMAN RACE. 27 



early age, and it may be that where the 

 difference between two races is so great as 

 between the white and the negro, the lower 

 race will not be elevated to the higher, and 

 that the crossed descendants die out. 



We have heard of cases where a limited 

 number of Europeans have settled among a 

 civilised dusky population and married native 

 women, but instead of the Europeans being 

 absorbed in the native population, the progeny 

 have retained the European type, although 

 they have deteriorated in mental qualities. 



If there are such cases, it might be sur- 

 mised that the European life-force was so 

 prepotent that, although in smaller propor- 

 tion than the native, it maintained its 

 ascendancy in the hybrid, while on the 

 other hand the mental characteristics of the 

 native prevailed. 



A close study of such cases, if such there 

 are, would doubtless throw much light on 

 the phenomena of cross-breeding, but in the 

 absence of full information we are reduced 

 to mere speculation ; and it ought to be kept 

 in view that at least a hundred years must 

 elapse before the materials for a definite 

 conclusion could be provided. 



It may be objected to our conclusions that 

 the people of Great Britain are largely com* 



