130 PHYSICAL INVESTIGATION. [PART I. 



than among the rest of the population. Latterly, the opinion 

 has gained ground, that the white races possess no particular 

 privilege with regard to the capacity of acclimatization ; but 

 only so far has this view been adopted, that a general capacity 

 to become acclimatized in all zones belongs to no race. The 

 more important facts in support of this view are here subjoined. 

 The American race which inhabits all climates, refutes the 

 privilege which has been assigned to the white race ; but it 

 presents, like other races, the phenomena that sudden transplan- 

 tation into other conditions, causes mortality, unless proper pre- 

 cautions are taken. It is, therefore, not the absolute adaptation 

 of every race to a peculiar climate or the incapacity of maintain- 

 ing itself in a foreign climate, which causes its decay, but the 

 abrupt change of external conditions. Thus, the Icelander 

 who settles in Copenhagen, becomes liable to, and frequently 

 dies of, consumption. 1 Indians who leave the mountainous 

 parts of Peru to settle on the coast, or inhabitants of the coast 

 who settle in the mountains, perish. 2 The Indian of the 

 Savannah, when transplanted to the damp air of the primitive 

 forests, dies of pulmonary disease, just as the inhabitants of the 

 forests and the hills when they are obliged to settle in the open 

 Savannah. 3 The mortality attending such forced transmigra- 

 tions, called forth those edicts which were formerly published 

 against this practice in Spanish America. The European, far 

 from supporting the sudden change from one climate to another, 

 finds the tropics as injurious to his health as the Negro finds 

 the northern regions. The Arab and the Copt sicken like the 

 European, in East Sudan, whilst the black displays there his 

 full vital energy. 4 There are many districts in Africa where 

 strangers, and especially Europeans, can neither live nor become 

 acclimated, whilst the natives enjoy good health. Such is the 

 case in some parts of the Darfur, the greater portion of 

 Kordofan, Fernando Po, and Zanzibar. The military in Kor- 

 dofan consists exclusively of blacks. It seems, however, from 



1 Clemens, " Deutsche Vierteljahrschrift," ii, p. 89, 1849. 



2 Proctor, " Narr. of a journey across the Cordillera," p. 299, 1825. 



3 Schomburgh, " R. in Brit. Guiana," ii, p. 126, Lpz., 1847. 



4 Werne, "Exped. z. Entd. der Q. des W. Nil," p. 47, 1828. 



