654 ANNUAL REPORT SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, 1920. 



hair, having an oval section. The skull is long, the nose very flat and 

 deeply inserted under the brow, and the lips thick. 



The figure is represented carrying the boomerang and wearing an 

 apron of kangaroo skin. (See pi. 81.) 



VEDDAH MAN AND WOMAN. 



Ceylon, India. 



The Veddahs are the true aborigines of Ceylon, and one of the 

 primitive tyipes of the human race. They live on the thickly wooded 

 flatlands and in hills and on the east coast of Ceylon, being known as 

 the Coast, Village, and Rock Veddahs. They are expert bowmen. 

 They subsist on whatever the jungle affords and live either among 

 the rocks or in A-shaped thatched huts. The women prepare the 

 food and work at a few domestic arts. (See pi. 82.) 



TRIBES OF ASIA. 



The Continent of Asia is complex geographically, furnishing every 

 type of environment as to elevation and temperature. It is also 

 very complex as to its population, possessing practically all varieties 

 of mankind. The shape and position of the continent puts it in 

 touch with all the earth, and from it probably all the tribes of men 

 issued. As an example, there is no doubt that the Western Hemi- 

 sphere was populated from Asia. 



In northern Asia we find tribes living in an Arctic or sub- Arctic 

 environment in western and eastern Siberia and in the extreme 

 northeast, where Chukchi, Koriaks, and Eskimo live and the rein- 

 deer is the chief dependence. 



Asia is known more generally as the home of the Mongols, who 

 occupy mainly the central and eastern portion and the East Indies. 

 The Mongolian race is so diversified beyond that of the other races 

 in physical character and appearance that the term "yellow race" 

 is hardly applicable. The term "Mongoloid" is used to designate 

 divisions or subraces which differ from the preconceived Mongol type. 

 The pure type is believed to be found in the Kalmucks of Russia. 

 Indo-China also has interesting groups of aboriginal tribes of primi- 

 tive culture. The cultivated peoples here are the Siamese, Bur- 

 mese, and Annamese. 



India with its immense population and numerous tribes forms 

 another Asiatic geographical group of extreme interest. The chief 

 divisions are the dark-skinned Dravidians and the Indo-Aryans. 

 The white race has important representatives in Asia, notably in 

 India, Persia, Syria, Arabia, and Asia Minor. In Asia the white 

 type has suffered its greatest changes. 



Western Asia, in which great culture centers have arisen and 

 passed away, is peopled by Iranians, Persians, Afghans, Kurds, Ar- 





