134 REPORT — 1861. 



is not merely confined to the skin, but affects the whole organism. The pre- 

 sence of light modifies the qualities of the air; it also acts on the nervous 

 system. If we look at the analogy of the effect of the absence of light on 

 organized beings generally, we shall readily understand the influence whicii 

 it exerts on man. Europeans, indeed, who live in darkness have colourless 

 skin, the muscles soft, and the whole body bloated. It is, therefore, a ques- 

 tion which has yet to be decided, how far the Esquimaux's ill- formed frame 

 may be produced by the want of light. And here we find that insensibly 

 our attention is called to the vexed question of the unity or the plurality of 

 origin of mankind. With that subject, however, we have at present nothing 

 to do. It is, however, on the assuuiption of unity of origin that the cos- 

 mopolitan powers of man have been imagined to exist. I hold the questions 

 of unity or plurality, however, to be of little or no consequence in the pre- 

 sent state of our knowledge. 



When we see that plants and animals vary in different climates, we are led 

 to expect that man will also vary with the climate. Plants growing like 

 trees in the tropics, become dwarfed in cold climates. It would, indeed, be 

 strange that, as all animals vary, man should remain unchanged. But while 

 admitting that man exists in harmony with external circumstances, we do 

 not admit that one type of man can be changed into another. As the rose 

 will under no change of external circumstances become a blackberry, so 

 neither will a dog become a wolf, nor a European an African Negro. We 

 shall, therefore, principally confine our attention to the inquiry whether man 

 migrating from one region to another gradually degenerates. If there is 

 degeneration going on, it is simply a question of time, as to how soon his 

 race will become extinct. I shall, therefore, contend that any race migrating 

 from one centre to another does degenerate both mentally and physically. 

 Indeed, the psychical change produced in man by climatological influence is 

 as soon visible as the change produced on his physical i'rame. When, for 

 instance, the European goes to Africa, he, for a short time, retains his vigour 

 of mind ; but soon he finds his energies exhausted, and becomes listless, and 

 nearly as indifferent to surrounding events as the natives. There is, how- 

 ever, a considerable difference in the effects produced both on individuals of 

 the same race, as also on the different races of men. Some are affected im- 

 mediately on their arrival, and then appear to become partially acclimatized ; 

 often the disease increases until it becomes very serious ; again, others are 

 attacked, without any warning, with either inflammation of the brain or liver. 

 Others, again, do not appear at first to be at all affected ; but gradually the 

 strength gives way, the countenance becomes despondent, and chronic disease 

 of the liver or stomach results. 



Neither can the inhabitants of tropical regions generally withstand the 

 influence of removal to a cold climate. Much, however, depends on race ; 

 for the different races of man have different degrees of adaptability for 

 change of climate. We cannot, however, yet decide the exact powers of 

 each race, as ethno-climatology is a new study, and a long series of obser- 

 vations is required before a satisfactory answer can be given. 



Before I proceed to indicate the sort of evidence we can get from that 

 most valuable of all modern sciences, statistical science, I think it will 

 be well that I should quote some few authorities to show that there is an 

 agreement between the most recent writers on this subject and the lesson 

 we learn from statistics. Dr. A. S. Thomson, who has paid great attention 

 to this subject, observes, " There is little doubt that the tropical parts of 

 the world are not suited by nature for the settlement of natives of a tem- 

 perate zone. European life is but with difficulty prolonged, much sickness 



