TROPICAL TRIBES AND RACES 201 



Goat's flesh, venison, mutton, pork, game of all sorts in fact, 

 all animal food except beef, which is forbidden. Eggs and fish 

 are also eaten when procurable. 



The following diet gives a fair average for the daily consumption 

 of food by the Jat Sikh. The information was obtained from 

 native officers of a Sikh regiment. 



Protein Value. 



Wheat . . . . 24 to 26 ozs.) 



Dais . . . . 2 ,, 130 to 151 grms., of which over 



Vegetables .. 4 ,, [ r 40 per cent, is derived from an 



Milk . . . . 16 ,, animal source. 



Meat . . . . 6 to 8 / 



When rice or millets, maize or barley, are made use of, they 

 replace about an equal quantity of wheat ; but when this is the 

 case, usually considerably more milk is consumed. The Jats 

 use curdled milk very largely, and buttermilk is a staple article 

 of diet in every family. 



The average dietary as outlined above is of a superior 

 type, and would mean a high level of protein interchange. 

 Accepting the average protein absorption to be 80 per cent., it 

 would mean a metabolism of from 18 to 20 grammes of nitrogen 

 daily. 



Physical Development. Jat Sikhs as a class are late of develop- 

 ment ; recruits of eighteen or nineteen years of age are often 

 lanky, undeveloped-looking lads. As a rule they have well- 

 shaped chests, with good expansion, and have plenty of " bone." 

 They rapidly develop into men of powerful physique under a 

 course of drill, gymnastics, etc., with a liberal diet. 



Average height . . . . . . .. 68 to 69 inches. 



,, chest girth 33 to 35 



weight 140 to 150 Ibs. 



It is evident from the information collected on the influence of 

 food on these different classes of Jats that the evidence bears 

 out in every detail the conclusions arrived at from a similar 

 analysis of the conditions prevailing in the several classes of 

 Rajputs and Dogras. Contrasting tribes or sects derived frcm 

 the same stock, living under identical conditions and customs, 

 but under different dietetic standards, we are able to obtain 

 corroboration of the views generally held by physiologists with 

 regard to the important role played by protein in the nutrition 

 of mankind, and the determining influence of a high level of 



