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44 ECONOMIC INQUIRIES AND STUDIES
an increase of the capacity of production, or even a
greater proportionate increase than there is of con-
sumption, it might well be that on the area of Bengal
there could be planted an even larger population than
there now is, yet with the average consuming power of
the people of the United States, and not merely the
average consuming power of the Hindoo. So greatly
different may be the varying units of population which
we are so ready to speak of as alike.
Among other questions of the same kind is tnat of
the strength of dfferent populations for war and in-
dustry. The differences between peoples are really
almost infinite, and are not always coincident as regards
war and industry. The Hindoo population, for instance,
appears to be differentiated from a European race in
respect of fighting force to a much greater extent than
it is differentiated in respect of industrial force. The
Chinese population, on the other hand, though it is
weaker at present than European populations in fighting
power, as well as industrial power, is, perhaps, not so
much differentiated as the Hindoo is, and presents alto-
gether a more difficult problem for their possible or
probable antagonists. Negro popuJations, again, are
differentiated in a different way, having a capacity for
great exertion in some directions, but not in others.
Such differences among peoples are so obvious that no
one will dispute them when stated.
Even if units of population were generally alike in-
stead of varying greatly, and in all sorts of directions,
another question arises with reference to frequent com-
parisons of population and areas. The number of in-
habitants per square mile is often quoted as denoting
conditions adverse or favourable to the populations
concerned. But of course there are areas and areas,
originally and as modified by the qualities of the people
dwelling upon them. In order to make a comparison
of the number of inhabitants per square mile of any
practical value at all, the nature of the areas, and of the
qualities of the inhabitants, must be studied, and the