On the phenomena of hybridity in the genus Homo — John Shaqi
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
Mulattoes of the latter kind exist in large numbers in the greater part
of the Antilles, South America, Central America, Mexico, Mauritius,
Bourbon, and Senegal. All these countries have been colonised by the
French, Spaniards, or Portuguese. The Mulattoes born there are fecund
in their intermixture with the parent stock, as the Mulattoes of
Germanic origin; they are also prolific between themselves, at least
in the first generation. Are they equally prolific in their direct
alliances as in their mixed ones? Are their children arriving at
maturity as the others? And finally, when these children intermarry,
are they and their descendants prolific? These questions are yet
unanswered. They can only be solved after a long series of observations
collected by men of science; not by travellers who view the populations
superficially, but by close observers, and principally by physicians
resident in these localities. In the mean while, here is another
passage from the work of Prof. Waitz, quoted by him from Seemann.[33]
“The Mulattoes of the Negroes and Whites at Panamá are prolific between
themselves, but their children are brought up with difficulty; whilst
the families of the pure races produce less children, which however
arrive at maturity.” The Europeans of Panamá are of Spanish origin. The
prolifickness of the Mulattoes of the first degree is clearly indicated
in this passage, but doubts may be entertained as to the fecundity of
their descendants. The intermixtures of Negroes and Europeans are not
the only ones the results of which exhibit defects to the observers.
“The Mulattoes,” says M. Boudin,[34] “are very often inferior to the
two parent stocks, both in vitality, intelligence, or morality. Thus
the Mulattoes of Pondicherry, known by the name of Topas, exhibit a
mortality not only more considerable than that of the Indians, but
greater than the Europeans, though the latter are considerably shorter
lived in India than in Europe. Positive documents on this point have
been published in the _Revue Coloniale_. So much as to the vitality.
“In Java, the Mulattoes of the Dutch and Malays are so little
intelligent that they could never be employed as functionaries. All
Dutch historians are agreed upon this point. This much for their
intelligence.
“The Mulattoes of Negroes and Indians, known by the name of _Zambos_
in Peru and Nicaragua, form the worst class of citizens. They compose
four-fifths of the prison population. This fact, already mentioned by
Tschudi,[35] has recently been confirmed by Squier. So much as regards
morality.
“There are, however, certain physical qualities which may be acquired
by the intermixture of races. Such are pathological immunities. The
Mulattoes of the West Indies are, like the Negroes, exempt from the
yellow fever.”
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