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circumstances, and we may infer that in these primitive types of 
mankind, the initial force which caused them to bud forth was 
feeble and the environment uncongenial to the evolution of a 
higher type. The first of these causes was probably the more 
effective, as at that period there was not as great a contrast 
between them and the corresponding developments on the simian 
branch, as exists at the present day between lowest man and 
highest ape. So that these early types never became evolved to 
@ more imposing size and importance than that of abortive shoots 
on the human branch, and never were intended for anything 
more than local effects of a transitory nature, and were never 
destined to play any important role in the general evolution of 
mankind. This supposed initial uselessness does not, however, 
detract from their interest as anthropological studies. Their 
.want in evolutionary force makes it probable that they still 
represent a type not far removed from the general anthropological 
development characteristic of the primeval times, when they first 
diverged from the general line. 
It must always be a matter of considerable difficulty to decide 
whether the savages inhabiting any particular locality are 
autochthonous or not. There appear to be a few spots on the 
surface of the globe whose inhabitants seem to merit this claim. 
At first sight it seems incredible that a country like India, that 
has been under the influences of civilizations from the remotest 
recorded times, should still harbour some of these primitive races. 
It is known that in the upper basin of the Nerbudda, in the 
centre of Hindostan, a forest race exists who are called by the 
ordinary inhabitants “‘ monkey people.” They are described as 
being short, flat-nosed, with pouch-like wrinkles in semi-circles 
round the corners of the mouth, the arms disproportionately long, 
and the body of a rusty black colour covered with a reddish hair. 
Again, it is recorded by Crawford in a paper to the British 
Association for the Advancement of Science, in 1852, that three 
naturalists travelling on the northern coast of New Guinea, for 
scientific purposes, found the trees full of natives, who leaped 
from branch to branch like monkeys, with their weapons fastened 
on their backs. Pouchet says :—‘‘ This singular race has been 
noticed in Hindostan by many eye witnesses, and seems to live 
half its time in trees. We have a right to ask if the confused 
remembrance of such a race and such habits was not the origin 
of the tradition which served as a foundation for the poem of 
Valmiki. Rama goes to the rescue of his wife, Sita, who had 
been carried off by the evil genius, Ravana ; he is assisted in this 
enterprise by a valiant army of monkeys.” In a foot-note the 
Editor of the “ Plurality of Races,” Mr. Beavan, barrister-at-law, 
refers to “‘ Voyages de Francois Pyrard,” published in 1615 ; 
