ig2 SCIENCE PROGRESS. 



Ganges and Jumna had since the dawn of history, and 

 doubtless long before, been the aim and coveted possession 

 of every invading tribe, Iranian or Turanian, Greek, 

 Pathan, Turk or Mongol. 



Different theories of caste complicated the subject. 

 Caste means colour, and the prevailing opinion was that 

 of the Hindus themselves, that the origin of castes was in 

 the distinctions of races who differed physically and palpably. 

 Their great multiplicity was ascribed partly to breach of 

 laws of endogamy by cross-breeding. Thus the Ambastha, 

 or physician caste, was supposed to descend from the in- 

 termarriage of Brahmans with Vaisyas. On this theory, 

 however, there is a little difficulty in perceiving why a 

 particular cross-breed should have been confined to a 

 particular occupation, and there were those who preferred 

 to assign the origin of caste distinctions to difference of 

 occupation rather than of blood, and who thought the 

 prohibition of exogamy was of later date. There are, 

 indeed, indications that these prohibitions were not so 

 absolute or so strictly adhered to at some remote period as 

 they have been now for many ages ; and it will be found 

 that this will furnish an almost necessary explanation of 

 certain general resemblances in the provincial popula- 

 tions. 



Mr. Risley, taking his method and instructions from 

 Topinard and Flower, and using chiefly native assistants, 

 who appear to have carried out their work with great 

 intelligence and zeal, ascertained the stature and weight, 

 and the principal kephalic and facial measurements in a 

 considerable number of individuals of each of 87 castes or 

 tribes, of which 1 5 belonged to the province of Bengal, 5 

 to Chittagong, 10 to the Darjiling Hills, 10 to Behar, 17 

 to Chota Nagpur, 23 to Oudh and the north-west pro- 

 vinces, and 9 to the Punjab. In a good many cases he 

 succeeded in getting 100 subjects of each caste, but most 

 of those in the Punjab, and some in the other provinces, 

 are but insufficiently represented. The total number ol 

 persons examined was nearly 6000. 



The chief inferences which Mr. Risley drew from this 



