Chap. VII. TJie Extinction of Races. 183 



savages. It further appears, mysterious as is the fact, that 

 the first meeting of distinct and separated people generates 

 disease."* Mr. Sproat, who in Vancouver Island closely attended" 

 to the subject of extinction, believed tliat changed habits of life, 

 consequent on the advent of Europeans, induces much ill health. 

 He lays, also, great stress on the apparently trifling cause that 

 the natives become " bewildered and dull by the new life around 

 " them ; they lose the motives for exertion, and get no new ones 

 'in their place.""'* 



The grade of their civilisation seems to be a most important 

 element in the success of competing nations. A few centuries 

 ago Europe feared the inroads of Eastern barbarians ; now any 

 such fear would be ridiculous. It is a more curious fact, as 

 Mr. Bagehot has remarked, that savages did not formerly waste 

 away before the classical nations, as they now do before modern 

 jivilised nations; had they done so, the old morahsts would 

 have mused over the event ; but there is no lament in any writer 

 of that period over the perishing barbarians.™ The most po- 

 tent of all the causes of extinction, appears in many cases to be 

 lessened fertility and ill-health, especially amongst the children, 

 arising from changed conditions of life, notwithstanding that the 

 new conditions may not be injurious in themselves. I am much 

 indebted to Mr. H. H. Howorth for having called my attention to 

 this subject, and for having given me information respecting it. 

 I have collected the following cases. 



When Tasmania was first colonised the natives were roughly 

 estimated by some at 7000 and by others at 20,000. Their 

 number was soon greatly reduced, chiefly by fighting with the 

 English and with each other. After the famous hunt by all the 

 colonists, when the remaining natives delivered themselves up 

 to the government, they consisted only of 120 individuals,"' 

 who were in 1832 transported to Fhnders Island. This island, 

 situated between Tasmania and Australia, is forty miles long, 

 and from twelve to eighteen miles broad: it seems healthy, 

 and the natives were well treated. Nevertheless, they suffered 

 greatly in health. In 1834 they consisted (Bonwick, p. 250) of 

 forty-seven adult males, forty-eight adult females, and sixteen 

 children, or in all of 111 souls. In 1835 only one hundred were left. 



" I have collected (' Journal of Savage Life,' 1868, p. 284. 



Researches, Voyage of the "Beagle,"' ^ Bagehot, 'Physics and Poli- 



p. 435) a good many cases bearing tics,' ' Fortni|[htly Review,' Aprii 



ra this subject: see also Gerland, 1, 1868, p. 455. 



.bid. s. 8. Poeppig speaks of the ^' All the statements here given 



" breath of civilisation as poisonous are taken from 'The last of tre 



" to savaees." Tasmunians,' by J. Bonwick, 1870. 



" Sjiroal, 'Scenes and Studies ot 



