TRANSACTIONS OF THE SECTIONS. 95 



don was called Huna probably more than 1000 years ago, and there can be no doubt 

 that the race of Hunas, often mentioned in the Piiranas, must be referred to the 

 same country. This fact seems to help to corroborate the views ef the Chevalier 

 BuHsen and of other ethnologists regarding the origin of the Huns in the countries 

 on the northern borders of the Himalaya. 



Notice of Travels in Asia Minor. By Pierre de Tchihatcheff. 



Observations on some Aboriginal Tribes of New Holland. 

 By Dr. T. R. Heyvtood Thomson, F.Eth.Soc. 



Notes on the Australians. By Mr. Townsend. 



On the best Means of realizing a Rapid Intercourse between Europe and Asia. 

 By Asa Whitney. 



On the Inhabitants of Lower Bengal. By Robert Young, E.M.R.C.S., 

 Surgeon to his Highness the Newab Nazim of Bengal. 



In this paper Mr. Young gives a few particulars of the inhabitants of Lower 

 Bengal, from personal observation, but confines himself to replies to the set of eth- 

 nological queries which were circulated by the British Association. 



Physical Characters. — The general stature of the men is low ; the proportions of 

 the figure are not good, and the weight is light, being on an average 130 lbs. The 

 women are larger in porportion and better made ; this may be attributable to the 

 development of the muscular system, in consequence of hard or household work, 

 carrying water, &c., while the men are engaged in agricultural pursuits. 



The head is generally large, as is the abdomen; the extremities usually meagre, 

 and the joints small. 



The complexion is of a colour hardly describable, and varies considerably from 

 bronze to black, but never assuming the copper hue of the South American Indian. 

 The hair is never woolly, but is of a good black, and generally curly ; it is sometimes 

 fine and sometimes coarse and straight, but mostly what we should term " a beautiful 

 head of hair." The colour of the eyes varies ; but with the description of hair just 

 given, you generally find eyes black and glossy. When the hair assumes a reddish 

 brown tint, the eye is often gray or hazel, and in such cases the complexion is always 

 lighter. These variations I have particularly observed; and among the natives of the 

 country, these men of lighter complexion are generally considered as of treacherous 

 character; but this remark I make not from my own observation. The shape of 

 the eye is always round rather than long, but it varies as in all other nations. I have 

 never detected any peculiarity of odour whatever, and should decidedly say there 

 is none. 



The head is, as I have said, large, and elongated from the front to the back ; the 

 ear is set remarkably far back in the temporal region, and the powers of perception 

 exceedingly low. I am unable to furnish sketches, as suggested by your Committee, 

 having quitted India at very short notice, and the men accompanying me not belonging 

 to the part of the country described as Lower Bengal, to which my observation 

 has been principally directed. Idiocy is very common among the Hindoos. As a 

 people they possess a wonderful power of maintaining an imperturbable expression 

 of countenance under the most adverse circumstances, and of conceaHng their 

 emotions, whether of pleasure or pain. This arises by no means from apathy, but 

 from innate deceit in the character, and is often made available for personal 

 advantage. 



The bones of the skull are thin and light, and the frontal bone is occasionally 

 found with a suture in the middle : this is not common. But in giving a reply to this 



