i86 



THE LIVING RACES OF MANKIND 



to by Mr. E. Tkurtstou, Madron Museum. 

 TWO TODA GIRLS. 



mistaken for the scorched and burned stumps 

 of trees, so often to be met with in India 

 on account of forest fires. Sir James On tram 

 won many of them over to comparative civili- 

 sation; and there are now two regiments 

 of Bhils in the native army. Their huts in 

 the forest are made of boughs and sticks 

 thatched and wattled with long grass. They 

 are fearful of evil omens, and worship trees, 

 stones, etc. They number 900,000. 



THE GONDS. 



THE domain of the Gonds, who are Dravidian, 

 is in the highlands north of the Deccan, and 

 called after them Goudwana. Many of them 

 were formerly employed in the coal-pits of 

 the Navbada Valley. According to Mr. Hislop, 

 they are darker than most of the other 

 aboriginal races, are of average height, and 

 have well-proportioned bodies, but rather ugly 

 features. They have a somewhat round head, 

 wide month and wide nostrils, thick lips, and 

 straight black hair, with only a scanty beard. 

 It is quite a mistake to suppose that any of 

 them have woolly hair, like a Negro. On 



the contrary, both hair and features are decidedly Mongolian. Captain Forsyth says the women 

 differ among themselves more than the men: in the opener parts of the country, near the 

 plains, they are often great robust creatures; but in the interior bevies of Gond women may 

 be seen who are more like monkeys than human beings. The features of all are strongly 

 marked and coarse. As soon as their short youth is over, they all pass at once into a hideous 

 old age. This is not surprising, for they lead very hard lives, sharing in nearly all the men's 

 labours. They dress decently enough in a short petticoat often dyed blue, tucked in between 

 the legs, so as to leave them naked to the thigh; a mantle of white cotton covers the upper 

 part of the body. They have their legs elaborately tattooed. Their number appears to be 

 about 124,000. 



THE TODAS. 



THE Todas dwell quite in the south in scattered hamlets on the slopes of the Nilgiri Hills, or 

 "Blue Hills." They are a tall, sturdy race, with regular features, and of a dark chocolate 

 colour. The nose is aquiline, the lips thick, and they are very hairy, a feature which at 

 once distinguishes them from the Aryan Hindus and reminds one of the Australians. The 

 general contour of the head and cast of countenance are rather such as we are accustomed 

 to associate with the ancient Roman. Mr. William Crooke, however, considers them to be 

 probably the earliest race in India, and retaining certain Negrito characteristics. Their brown 

 eyes are wonderfully quick and bright, full of intelligence, often melancholy and gentle. In 

 some instances the physiognomy appears rather Jewish; hence they have been associated by 

 some writers with the lost tribes of Israel. These people are essentially herdsmen (as their 

 [Tamil] name implies), and herdsmen they have been for untold ages. Raised high above the 

 torrid plains of India, they inhabit a sort of tropical Switzerland. Secluded amongst their 

 pastures, taking pleasure only in their own customs, they hold aloof from all foreign influences. 

 The tone of voice is kind and grave, but with the women solemnity is replaced by a 



