Newman. — On Causes leading to the Extinction of the Maori. 473 



the race. Galton has demonstrated the infertiHty of aristocracies whose 

 members married only with each other. These, and a host of other autho- 

 rities, show that any race of man which breeds in and in, becomes more 

 and more infertile, and the scanty progeny more and more sickly and likely 

 to perish. 



When the Maoris came here several centuries ago, they were probably 

 not quite a pure race, but were Malays with an infusion of Papuan blood. 

 This infusion of Papuan blood can, I think, be traced to this day, appearing 

 every now and then amongst then* lower classes. Arriving in a fresh and 

 more invigorating climate than that to which they had been used, and 

 finding the supplies of food abundant and easily got, their fertility increased 

 by this slight cross with the Papuans ; it was no wonder they multiplied 

 rapidly, but the Papuan blood being only in small quantity, and always 

 shunned and despised, was soon an insignificant quantity, and the Malay 

 blood became purer and purer. As the Maoris spread over these islands 

 and divided themselves into tribes, living far apart, usually at war with each 

 other, breeding in and in was almost a necessity, and hence, as I believe, 

 the chief cause of the barrenness of the race. 



Though I am free to admit the existence of other, yet I feel sure that 

 this is the chief cause. It has been alleged that early promiscuity on the 

 part of very young Maori women is the chief cause, but though certainly 

 an important item, it is not the chief, and is not more common now than 

 formerly. Alcohol and tobacco are also credited as evil agents, but for 

 these no proof exists. Syphilis has been blamed by many, but seeing how 

 very slightly it has affected the race there is no evidence to show that it has 

 at all decreased the fertility of the race. On the other hand, I believe that 

 the frequency of the milder form of lues venerea has by its frequency and 

 severity been a frequent cause of sterility in both sexes by inflammation of 

 and subsequent stricture and closure of the various ducts, and especially 

 obliteration of the passage through the Fallopian tubes. In exceptional 

 cases I think that the introduction of horses has caused abortion. Some 

 allege that hard work produces this infertility, but though it may aid, it 

 cannot be an important factor, for Maori women have always had to work 

 and -carry heavy burdens, even in past times when the race was fertile. 

 The Maoris thought that all sterility was due to the females, and dis- 

 regarded the abundant proof that many men were always childless, no 

 matter how many wives they took. Formerly if a woman were childless 

 she took another mate for that reason and no other : now, however, she 

 sometimes remains sterile and faithful. It is probable that the great num- 

 ber of males and the fewness of the women leads to sexual indulgences in 

 great excess, thereby causing a diminished fertility. 



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