186 THE PROTEIN ELEMENT IN NUTRITION 



(6) Sikkim Bhutias, or Lepchas. 



Height averaged between 5 feet 4 inches and 5 feet 6 inches. 



Tallest, 5 feet 7 inches. 



Shortest, 5 feet. 

 Chest girth, the same as in Tibetan Bhutias. (Pure Lepchas 



are slightly smaller in stature than this.) 



2. Nepalese (64 men examined). 



Height averaged between 5 feet 2 inches and 5 feet 4 inches. 

 Tallest, 5 feet 6 inches. 

 Shortest, 4 feet 8 inches. 



Chest girth averaged between 32 and 34 inches. 

 Greatest, 36 inches. 

 Smallest, 30 inches. 



The Tibetan Bhutias are probably the finest specimens of 

 manhood amongst these hill- tribes. They are stronger physi- 

 cally and more powerfully developed than the Sikkimese or 

 Nepalese. Most of the really hard work, such as carrying 

 dandies, hauling rickshas, etc., is performed by these people. 

 The women are equally well developed, and are capable of 

 carrying out the most trying muscular ordeals ; young girls will 

 readily undertake the transport of the heaviest trunks and 

 articles of baggage up the very steep paths in Darjeeling and its 

 precincts. The Bhutia from his earliest years is accustomed to 

 weight-carrying, the children being loaded with weights they can 

 just stagger under. As years go on and strength improves, 

 greater and heavier burdens are carried, until in adult life loads 

 of 200 pounds and upwards are easily managed. A working 

 coolie will go steadily on carrying such loads all day, making 

 trip after trip in a way never met with in Bengal. The constancy 

 of theBhutia's working capacity is a most noticeable feature when 

 contrasted with the methods of the Bengal coolie, who, after 

 even the slightest exertion, must have a rest and, if possible, a 

 sleep to recover from the consequent exhaustion. 



Amongst the hill-tribes themselves the Nepalese and Tibetan 

 Bhutias are the finest specimens of manhood in every respect ; 

 next to them come the Sikkim Bhutias, and then the Nepalese. 

 It will be observed from the data collected that the Nepalese 

 are considerably smaller in stature than the Bhutias. They are 

 also less hardy and less muscular. The Nepalese are usually 

 to be found as ordinary working coolies or as house servants 

 i.e., in situations requiring considerably less expenditure of 

 energy than in the work performed by Bhutias. These tribes 

 are all purely Mongoloid in type, there being little or no admixture 

 of Indo- Aryan or Dravidian elements (Kisley). Their customs 



