Ixxxii REPORT— 1900. 



impressed by its scientific importance, have requested me, On their behalf, 

 to bring to the notice of Her Majesty's Government the valuable scientific 

 results which might be obtained by means of the Census. 



The results of the Census itself constitute, of course, by their very 

 nature, an ethnographical document of great value ; and my Council feel 

 that, without overburdening the Officers of the Census or incurring any very 

 lar^e expense, that value might be increased to a very remarkable degree 

 if to the enumeration were added the collection of some easily ascertained 

 ethnographical data. They are encouraged to make this suggestion by 

 the reflection that the Census Commissioner is an accomplished ethno- 

 graphist, well known by his publication on the Tribes and Castes of 

 Bengal, the valuable results of which would be supplemented by the 

 inquiries now proposed. They feel confident that, with his aid and under 

 his direction, most important data may be obtained at a minimum of 

 effort and cost. I may add that should the suggestion which my Council 

 desire to make be carried out, a great step will have been taken towards 

 establishing a uniform method of ethnographical observation in India— a 

 matter of great scientific importance. 



Stated briefly, what, my Council desire to see carried out is as 

 follows : — 



1. While collecting the oi'dinary information for the Census, to 

 investigate the physical and sociological characters of the various races 

 and tribes of India. Such data would furnish the basis for a true 

 estima,tion of the number and distribution of the tribes in question, and 

 thus powerfully contribute to a sound classification of the races of India. 



Special attention to be directed («) to the jungle races^Bhils, Gonds, 

 and other tribes of the central mountain districts — concerning which our 

 information is at present very limited. 



(h) To the Naga, Kuki, and other cognate races of the Assam and 

 Burmese frontiers, and of the vagrant and criminal tribes — Haburas, 

 Beriyas, Sansiyas, &c. — in North and Central India. 



(c) To the Dravidian tribes, and the Rajputs and Jats of Rajputana 

 and the Eastern Panjab. This will be of service in throwing light on 

 the important and difficult problem of the origin of these tribes and their 

 relation with the Yu-echi and other Scythian races. 



(d) To pay especial attention to the question of a possible Negrito 

 element in certain ethnic groups in India. 



2. To obtain, so far as can be done without too great labour and 

 expense, a series of photographs of typical individuals of the various 

 races, and, if it should be practicable, of views of archaic industries, &c. 

 This, which might be accomplished by placing photographers at the 

 service of the Census Officers, would be the commencement of an 

 Ethnographical Survey of India similar to, and certainly no less important 

 than, the Archteological Survey of which the Government of India may so 

 justly be proud. 



My Council, in considering the above proposal, have been assisted by 

 a Committee of gentlemen possessing special knowledge of the subject in 

 question, and I am to add that this Committee will be pleased to place 

 themselves at the disposal of Her Majesty's Government to assist in the 

 proposed investigation. If it should seem desirable to Her Majesty's 

 Government, the Committee are pre ared to put themselves into direct 



