﻿NO. I SMITHSONIAN EXPLORATIONS, I925 61 



and Sivapithecus genera, and this with but limited scientific explora- 

 tion. In former years remains of fossil anthropoids had been dis- 

 covered in no less than eight other well separated localities in these 

 hills, and it is probably safe to say that there is no region in the world 

 richer or more promising in such remains. Yet this important field 

 today lies fallow. The man who. in recent years, has done most of 

 the paleontological exploration in these hUls — Dr. Pilgrim, formerly 

 a Superintendent of the Geological Survey — is returning to London, 

 and there is no one to take his place .^ 



Manv other noteworthy Tertiary and Quaternary fossils besides 

 those of apes are appearing in the Siwaliks, such as those of giant 

 turtles, extinct proboscidea, and other animals ; and the further pos- 

 sibilities of the region can hardly be estimated.' 



From Simla Dr. Hrdlicka proceeded to the Tibetan border, to 

 observe the types of the Tibetans who make their homes in Darjeeling 

 or its vicinity, or come there from over the mountains, and who occa- 

 sionally show types that resemble most closely the American Indian. 

 At Darjeeling, with generous help from the Government," it was 

 possible in a short time to see large numbers of the native popula- 

 tion, consisting of mongoloid tribes who have overflowed into the 

 northernmost parts of India, and a good many Tibetans. There is 

 seen amongst these Tibetans, Chinese admixture — for the Chinese 

 have been lords of Tibet for a long time— yet frequently true Ameri- 

 can Indian types are also to be found, so true that if they were trans- 

 planted into America nobody could possibly take them for anything but 

 Indian. They — men, women and children — resemble the Indians in 

 behavior, in dress, and even in the intonations of their language. 



From the Titetan border Dr. Hrdlicka returned to Calcutta to see 

 the establishment of the Geological Survey of India and the renowned 

 Indian Museum, where were found very valuable paleontological 

 and archeological collections which ought to be better known.' The 



'Just as this goes to press, it is learned that, owing to a discovery of oil in 

 the Punjab, Dr. Pilgrim is to return to that part of India, where he will be 

 near what are perhaps the most promising parts of the Siwaliks. 



* At Simla, help was received particularly from Sir Frederick White, Presi- 

 dent of the Indian Assembly, from the Military Secretary to H. E. the Viceroy, 

 from members of the Cabinet, and from Dr. Pilgrim personally. 



' Thanks here are due especially to H. E. Sir John Kerr, Governor of 

 Assam, at that time Acting Governor of Bengal, to Lady Kerr, and to the 

 Governor's official family. 



* In Calcutta many thanks for aid extended are due particularly to the local 

 public officials, to the excellent staff of the Geological Survey, to Mr. J. Van 

 Mauen, Secretary of the Asiatic Society of Bengal, and to the gentlemen of the 

 American Consulate-General. 



