﻿64 SMITHSONIAN MISCELLANEOUS COLLECTIONS VOL. 78 



India, such as the Santal country north of Calcutta, such implements 

 have been collected in thousands. In other parts, especially near 

 Madras, they are partly on the surface soil, partly from i to 4 

 or 5 feet and even deeper below^ the surface. In places they occur in 

 the alluvium of the rivers and occasionally in the " laterite ", a talus- 

 like debris resulting" from the disintegration of older rocks. 



In short, there are plentiful paleolithic implements over large por- 

 tions of the country, but as yet they do not definitely indicate a man 

 of geological antiquity. 



With regard to the bulk of the present population of India, Dr. 

 Hrdlicka believes he can say with confidence that it is mainly com- 

 posed of three ethnic elements, the Mediterranean, the Semitic, and 

 in certain parts the " Hamitic " or North African. The "Aryans " 

 show everywhere either the Semitic or the Mediterranean type. There 

 was seen nothing that could be referred to the types of central or 

 northern Europe. It would seem therefore that the Aryans came 

 from Persia and Asia Minor rather than from or through what 

 is now European Russia. 



From India Dr. Hrdlicka went to Ceylon, which is a strategic 

 island in an anthropological sense as well as in other respects.* It 

 is known that before its present population of Singhalese and Dra- 

 vidians, Ceylon was peopled by an older branch of humanity, the 

 remnant of which is represented in the Veddas. 



No certain trace has been found in Ceylon as yet of geologically 

 ancient man, but there are all over the island, generally on the tops 

 of the hills, plentiful traces of old stone workings. These remains, 

 mostly of cjuartz, some of chert, are, however, superficial and look 

 fresh and have never been found in association with extinct animals. 



The Veddas are only a remnant. They live in hardly accessible 

 lowlands and are very seldom met with. Judging from their port- 

 raits and other information they do not appear to be of such a 

 primitive type as has been supposed. 



From Ceylon, Dr. Hrdlicka proceeded to Java, touching at 

 Sumatra and the Straits Settlements. 



Sumatra is still but imperfectly known and retains the romance 

 of such a state. As learned later, especially from Mr. L. C. Westen- 

 anck, formerly for many years Resident (local Governor) at Palom- 



^ Thanks for aid with his work in this island are due to the island authorities ; 

 to Mr. John H. Williams, the U. S. Vice-Consul in Charge at Colombo; to the 

 authorities of the Colombo Museum; and to Dr. Andreas Nell and Judge 

 Pieris at Kandy. 



