466 HYBKIDITY AND ABSORPTION OF THE RED INDIAN RACE. 



number of Half-breeds to be seen around every Government fort in- 

 the Indian territory. The ethnical I'esults impressed him eveiy where 

 favourably ; and he closes his remarks with the hope that he may see 

 the Indians of the United States acquiring property, education, and 

 a permanent settlement, with honourable marriages; for, he says, 

 " I think we can absorb a lai-ge portion of this Indian blood, with • 

 an increase of physical health and streng-th, and no intellectual 

 detriment." 



Such, then, is one element affecting the condition and future pros- 

 pects of the native races of the New World, not without its analogies 

 in the ethnology of Europe, which has not yet received the attention 

 it deserves. The results of the meeting and intermingling of the 

 native and intruding races, especially in the inartificial habits of 

 border life, are much more extensive and lasting than the ordinary 

 observer has any conception of ; and have led to the transfer of a 

 larger amount of Red Blood to the common stock than has received 

 any adequate recognition. If the triumphs of modern progress in the 

 New World were attained by means such as those resorted to by its 

 fii'st Spanish colonists in their treatment of the native races, we could 

 look with no satisfaction or well-grounded hope on states thus founded 

 in iniquity. But if by tliis intrusion of the vigorous races of Europe, 

 industrious millions, enjoying all the advantages of cultured refine- 

 ment, are to replace scattered tribes of savages living in aimless 

 strife : the most sensitive philanthropist must be satisfied if, in addi- 

 tion to this, lie can recognize a process going on whereby even the 

 displaced and superseded aborigines are not wholly excluded from a 

 share in the advantages of such progressive civilization, or even from 

 exercising some influence on its development. 



