VOL. XV. (1) THE PEOPLE OF INDIA RE 
opposed to the Aryan type, is the width of nostril. Part 
of these pre-Aryan peoples were enslaved by the Aryan, 
and now form the large mass of menial castes : part in the 
highlands of Central India, and the two mountain ranges 
which flank the southern part of the Peninsula, remained 
undisturbed up to our own time. 
The sociology and condition of these tribes, such as 
Bhils, Gonds and Santals were discussed, and some 
account was given of their marriage and death rites, 
particularly in connexion with the latter, the ideas of the 
future state of the soul after death, as reflected in the 
customs of earth burial and cremation, were considered. 
The question of caste was next discussed, and it was 
pointed out that the common Hindu belief that it existed 
from the very early times, and was peculiar to India, was 
erroneous. It does not appear in the Veda, and was 
probably only in process of evolution at the period when 
Buddhism arose, in the 5th century B.C. Something like 
caste, again, appears in Egypt, Greece, Rome, and even in 
modern Europe. It seems to have resulted from the con- 
tact of the foreign and indigenous peoples. It was partly, 
that is to say, racial: but in a large measure occupational, 
the impulse being probably given by the specialisation 
of priestly functions among the Brahmans, which was 
brought about by the increasing formalism of ritual. The 
constant growth of new castes by a process of fusion, and 
the rules of endogamy and exogamy, were illustrated as 
they appear at present. After a short reference to the 
social and economic results of the caste system, the 
lecture closed with the exhibition of a series of photo- 
graphic slides representing some of the most preminent 
ethnical types. 
PRESENTED 
8 OCT1904 
