ON ETHNO-CLTAIATOLOGY. 129 



On Elhno-Climatology ; or, the Acclimatization of Man. By James 

 Hunt, Ph. D., F.S.A., F.R.S.L., Foreign Associate of the An- 

 thropological Society of Paris, Honorary Secretary of the Ethnolo- 

 gical Society of London. 



[A communication ordered to be printed among the Reports.] 



One of the most important and practical duties of the ethnologist at the 

 present day is the endeavour to discover the laws which regulate the health 

 of man in his migrations over tlie world. The generally received opinions 

 on this important subject are, however, vague and unsatisfactory. 



From some cause, it is the popular belief that man stands entirely alone 

 in the animal kingdom with regard to the influence exerted on him by 

 external causes. We are told that man can thrive equally well in the 

 burning heat of the tropics and in the icy regions at the poles. 



I purpose, therefore, in this paper to examine how far the supposition of 

 man's cosmopolitan power is warranted by an induction from the facts at 

 present known to us.] We can gain nathing in Climatology from ^' a priori" 

 arguments, as it is entirely an experimental science ; and hitherto we have 

 not been able to foretell with any certainty the exact effect wliicii any 

 climate would exert on an individual or a race. No one who reflects on the 

 important bearings which the question of man's cosmopolitanisnt introduces 

 will be inclined to doubt the gravity of the question, and its claims to tlie 

 serious attention, not only of ethnologists, but of all wiio are interested in 

 the great problem of man's future. destiny. This question then has equal 

 claims on the attention of the philosopher and the statesman. Our data 

 may be at present insufficient to found an exact science of Ethno-Clim ito- 

 logy, but I trust to be able to show that there exist the outlines of a great 

 science, which bids fair to prevent that waste of human life which has 

 hitherto characterized the reckless policy of British colonization. Dr. Bou- 

 din, who is well known for his researciies on this and kindred subjects, has 

 recently called the attention of the Anthropological Society of Paris to the 

 question, and laments the great inattention which public men have hitherto 

 given to such an important and grave subject. He very justly observes, 

 " The problem is certainly one of the most important in the science of 

 ethnology; for it governs the great questions of colonization, of recruiting 

 men destined for distant expeditions, and of fixing the duration of the sojourn 

 of foreign troops at certain stations, so as to render them effective in war. 

 This question touches public health and social economy." Nor will it bo 

 necessary for me further to ask attention, when it is considered how largely 

 the British nation is practically interested in having a correct and physiolo- 

 gical system of colonization. 1 therefore bring this subject under your con- 

 sideration with a desire of calling public attention to the powers of acclima- 

 tization possessed by the races of man in general, and by Europeans in 

 particular. It is asserted that to man belongs the exclusive privilege of 

 being the denizen of every region; for that with plants and animals such is 

 not the case. This explanation has as often been accepted as satisfactorily 

 showing that man enjoys privileges over the animal and vegetable kingdoms. 

 That races of men are found in every climate is perfectly true ; but a slight 

 examination into the differences and peculiarities of the races of men will 

 show that this argument is not so forcible as at first sight it appears. 

 Theorists have often indulged in boasting of the superiority of man over 

 the animal kingdom in his migrations over the world; but these writers 

 have forgotten that it is civilization which greatly aids man to adapt himself 

 (for a time) to every climate. Wc have heard much, too, of the acclimati- 



1861. K 



