CHAPTER XY. 



RELATIONS BETWEEN THE RACES. 



Although languages indicate national affiliation, their actual dis- 

 tribution, is to a certain extent independent of physical race. Con- 

 fusion has sometimes arisen, from not giving due attention to this 

 circumstance; and indeed, the extension, or the imparting of lan- 

 guages, is a subject which has received very little attention. 



Writers sometimes reason as if nations w^ent about in masses, the 

 strong overcoming the weak, and imposing at once their customs, re- 

 ligion, and languages, on the vanquished. But a careful examina- 

 tion of the present, being regarded as the best guide to the history 

 of the past ; the following examples, selected from among others which 

 I have noted, may be found deserving of attention : 



In the mining towns of the Peruvian Andes, the Spanish language 

 is not commonly spoken ; but Spaniards and other foreigners, learn 

 the Quichua, or the native Peruvian. 



In Luzon, though a " conquered country" for more than two centu- 

 ries, the Tagala is still the general language ; and the Spanish, 

 makes no progress in the interior towns and districts. 



At Singapore, where the native population is lost amid the influx of 

 foreigners, the current language is nevertheless the proper Malay. 



Were foreign intercourse cut off from the Hawaiian Islands, I think 

 I shall be supported in the opinion ; that notwithstanding the large 

 number of resident Whites, the English language would soon be- 

 come obsolete. 



The English language makes no progress in Hindoostan ; neither do 

 the Roman letters ; and among the native poj)ulation, newspapers 

 are printed in five or six different alphabets, and a yet greater 

 variety of languages. 



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