On the phenomena of hybridity in the genus HomoBroca, Paul
Science
On the phenomena of hybridity in the genus Homo
Broca, Paul
Hominids -- Hybridization; Miscegenation
The second point is much more serious, for if accepted without
restriction, we must admit that eugenesic hybridity does not exist in
mankind, and that all cross-breeds, whatever their origin, whether they
are issued from nearly approaching or distant races, not merely the
descendants of whites and negroes, but also of Celts and Kimris, are
incapable of engendering a durable posterity. For my part, I believe
that such is actually the case with certain mongrel-breeds; I believe
that in the genus _Homo_, there are very unequal degrees of eugenesic
hybridity; but after having recognised that eugenesic hybridity does
exist between dog and wolf, hare and rabbit, goat and sheep, camel and
dromedary, I am permitted to say that it also exists between certain
races of men.
Among the facts quoted to prove the sterility of human cross-breeds,
some are of great value: and we shall examine them in the sequel;
others have been wrongly interpreted, while some are far from being
exact. I have already pointed out a cause of error which was not taken
into account, and which occurs frequently: it is the change of climate
which alone is capable of sterilising a race transplanted into the
midst of another race. Before attributing a defect of fecundity to
the mixed descendants of an immigrant race, we must see whether in
the same country the individuals of this race are more prolific in
their direct alliances. It is known, for instance, that the Mamelukes,
originating from the region of the Caucasus, have never taken root
in Egypt, where, nevertheless, from 1250, the epoch of their advent,
until 1811, the period of their extermination, their caste has always
formed a notable part of the population. They could only maintain
themselves by reinforcements which they annually received from the
native country, and though not half a century has elapsed since the
great massacre of Cairo, there remains no trace of them on the borders
of the Nile. Such being the fact, it was concluded therefrom, that the
descendants of the Mamelukes and the Egyptians were hybrids of little
or no fecundity. Gliddon has thus interpreted it, and Pouchet has
accepted that interpretation.[21] This, however, is not the real cause
of the sterility of the Mamelukes in Egypt, and Volney, who, towards
the end of the last century, has carefully observed and studied this
race, offers the following remarks on them: “Seeing that they have
existed in Egypt for centuries, one would be apt to believe that they
have reproduced themselves by the ordinary process of breeding; but if
their first settlement is a curious fact, their perpetuation is not
less so. For five centuries there have been Mamelukes in Egypt, yet not
one of them has left a subsisting line: there exists not one family
of the second generation, all their children perish in the first or
second generation. _The Ottomans are nearly in the same condition_,
and it is observed that they only preserve themselves from the same
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