52 THE DENIZENS OF THE FOREST 



For it is they and their like who, with only such 

 weapons as the forest affords and their own in- 

 genuity devised, won the way through for us civilised 

 men, won the battle against the fierce and much 

 more powerful beasts around them, and by great 

 daring and through sheer skill, courage, and endur- 

 ance led the way to the light. It was a marvellous 

 feat. For all the privileges and immunities which 

 we men of to-day enjoy we have to thank these 

 primitive forest men, and our gratitude could never 

 be too great. They are deserving of the closest 

 attention and the warmest appreciation. 



Not many of these really primitive peoples are 

 nowadays left in the jungles. But the tea-gardens 

 have attracted a primitive people, the Santals, who 

 are typical of the true Dravidian stock of India — a 

 joUy, cheerful, easy-going, and, on the whole, 

 law-abiding, truthful, and honest people who 

 love a roaming life, with plenty of hunting and 

 fishing. 



The Lepchas of Sikkim have risen above the 

 first primitive stage. They clothe themselves well 

 and dwell in well-built houses. They do not possess 

 for us the same essential interest as belongs to truly 

 primitive people. But on account of their intimate 

 knowledge of the forest and its denizens, and by 

 reason also of their being a remarkably simple, 

 gentle, and likeable people, they have an unusual 

 attraction for travellers. Hooker, who was one of 

 the first to live among them, and Claude White, 

 who lived among them for many years, both write 

 of them in affectionate terms. They are child-like 

 and engaging, good-humoured, cheery and amiable, 



