832 EEPORT — 1886. 



superior to the other ; but using the word English for the Teutonic inhabitants of 

 these islands I think one can hardly doubt that the English breed crossed with 

 a dash of Celtic blood produces a better aninaal than either of the parent races. 

 Witness the people of many parts of Scotland, of Ulster, and, I believe I may also 

 say, of Cornwall. It is the use of the Celtic blood as an alloy that makes me 

 specially unwilling to see Highlanders, and even wild Irishmen, exterminated from 

 these islands. It may be worse for all of us if that comes to pass. 



There is a popular belief that the cross between an Englishman and a Hindu 

 produces a race inferior to either. I very much doubt the fact. Owing to the 

 caste system (and it prevails with us almost as much as with the Hindus) half- 

 castes are placed at a very great disadvantage, but I doubt if they are naturally 

 inferior ; at any rate, the question requires to be worked out. I think we have the 

 means of doing so if we systematically went about it. So again as regards the cross- 

 breeds between whites and negroes. There is so much prejudice on the subject in 

 the United States that it is very difficult to arrive at the truth. Some people^ 

 think that the stimulating climate tends to make the white race in America wear 

 itself out, and that (apart from the present great immigration from Europe) it 

 would be a real improvement to the American race if the whites were crossed with 

 the more phlegmatic blacks, say, in the proportion of six or eight of white to one of 

 black, which now exists in the States. However, that is their aiFair, but a very 

 important question for them. 



And this brings me to the eifect of climate. Is it the fact that in course of genera- 

 tions settled in America the climate alters the British race — or perhaps I should say 

 European races ? What is the tendency of the very peculiar Australian climate ? 

 It has passed into a popular proverb that the European race cannot survive irt 

 India beyond the second or third generation ; and the result of that belief has been 

 of euormous practical importance, for no sort of colonisation has been attempted. 

 Yet I whoUy doubt if the belief can be supported by any facts whatever ; it is one 

 of those things that are universally believed because they have never been tried, 

 and therefore cannot be contradicted. Till little more than fifty years ago Euro- 

 peans were not allowed to settle in India. To this day opportunities for education 

 and good up-bringing are very much wanting — the surroundings are most unfavour- 

 able to European children ; yet a good many instances could now be quoted of Euro- 

 peans brought up in India who are physically just as good as their parents. The 

 mortality in the European orphan asylums is extraordinarily low. It is not at all 

 certain that the race might not be adapted to the climate, especially as the cool 

 hill regions are those least occupied by the natives, and most fit for many lucrative- 

 industries introduced by Europeans. 



Coming to physical and mental education, I have already alluded to some 

 of the subjects which urgently require attention, the most important of which is, 

 I think, the efiect of what we call civilised life, and especially urban life. It ia 

 impossible to see the crowded and inferior dwellings in wbich so vast a population 

 lives in towns, without room for the gardens which their fathers had, and without 

 the space and recreations natural to man, and not to fear for the result on the 

 race. I might also say more on the question of physical education and on that of 

 a mental education so general as to leave no mere primitive jungle plants as a stock 

 on which to graft improved varieties ; a subject which is already engaging anxious 

 attention. On many other questions to which I have briefly alluded I might 

 enlarge, but I have detained you so long that I think you would prefer to get to 

 business ; and so I will conclude by recommending practical anthropology to your 

 earnest attention. 



