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Show 214 THE DESCENT OF MAN. PART I. CHAPTER VII. ON THE RACES OF MAN. The nature and value of specific characters-Application to the races of man-Arguments in favour of, and opposed to, ranking the so-called races of man as distinct species- Sub-species -Monogenists and polygenists- Convergence of character-Numerous points of resemblance in body and mind between the most distinct races of man- The state of ma.n when he first spread over the earth- Each race not descended from a single pair- The extinction of races- The formation of races- 'l'he effects of crossing- Slight influence of the direct action of the conditions of life - Slight or no influence of natural selection- Sexual selection. IT is not my intention here to describe the several so-called races of men ; but to inquire what is the value of the differences between them under a classificatory point of view, and how they have originated. In determining whether two or more allied forms ought to be ranked as species or varieties, naturalists are practically guided by the following considerations ; namely, the amount of difference between them, and whether such differences relate to few or many points of structure, and whether they are of physiological importance; but more especially whether they are constant. Constancy of character is what is chiefly valued and sought for by naturalists. vVhenever it can be shewn, or rendered probable, that the forms in. question have remained distinct for a long period, th1s becomes an argument of much weight in favour of treating them as species. Even a slight degree of sterility between any two forms when first crossed or in their offspring, is generally considered as a deci~ive .CrrAP. VII. THE RACES OF MAN. ·215 test of their specific distinctness ; and their continued persistence without blending within the same area, is usually accepted as sufficient evidence, either of some degree of mutual sterility, or in the case of animals of some repugnance to mutual pairing. Independently of blending from intercrossing, the complete absence, in a well-investigated region, 0f varieties linking together any two closely-allied forms, is probably the most important of all the criterions of their specific distinctness; and this is a somewhat ?-ifferent consideration from mere constancy of character, for two forms may be highly variable and yet not yield intermediate varieties. Geographical distribution is often unconsciously and sometimes consciously bxought into play; so that forms living in two widely separated areas, in which most of the other inhabitants are specifically distinct, are themselves usually looked at as distinct ; but in truth this affords no aid in distinguishing geographical races from so-called good or true species. Now let us apply these generally-admitted principles to the races of man, viewing him in the same spirit as a naturalist would any other animal. In regard to the amount of difference between the races, we must make some allowance for our nice powers of discrimination gained by the long habit of observing ourselves. In India, as Elphinstone remarks, 1 although a newly-arrived European cannot at first distinguish the various native races, yet they soon appear to him extremely dissimilar; and the Hindoo cannot at first perceive any difference between the several European nations. Even the most distinct races of man, with the exception of certain negro tribes, are much more like each other in form 1 ' History of India,' 1841, vol. i. p. 323. Father Ripa makes exactly :the same remark with respect to the Chinese. |