8 The Ethnology of India. 



raised tlie position of such tribes. There is, I think, a good deal 

 to suggest that during the various invasions of Southern India by a 

 succession of Northern ' Yavanas,' small tribes of these latter may have 

 taken up their position in difficult parts of the country, and there, 

 amalgamating with the aboriginal tribes, have formed half-breed races 

 of much robber-like and semi-military energy. 



Before going farther, I would suggest the following as especially 

 deserving the attention of those who are willing to aid in a popular 

 way in classing the various tribes and castes in India. 



1. Physical appearance. The three main types, Caucasian, Mon- 

 golian, and Negro or Negrito, are well-known. In India we have, in 

 the extreme North, the finest and purest Caucasian type, the handsomer 

 and more open form of that which we know as the Jewish cast of 

 countenance ; fine head and features, high brow and nose, long beard, 

 tall, lithe, powerful figure, colour generally light. Throughout India, 

 we have this type modified and subdued by every variety of straight and 

 snub nose and plebeian features, much as in Europe, and with a dark 

 skin unknown in Europe. Sometimes the skin becomes very black, 

 and the lips are thick and protuberant ; there may be marked the 

 infusion of blood of the Negrito type which probably modifies the 

 higher phase of the Caucasian type, even when actual Negrito features 

 cannot be traced. 



This Negrito type we find in India not accompanied with the 

 muscular form of many Africans, but in a small slight race. The 

 principal points to be marked, in addition to colour, are the lips, already 

 alluded to, shape of face, nose, and eyes, presence or absence of a 

 considerable beard, character of the hair. 



Among the Thibetans and Nipalese we have extreme examples of 

 the type which I call generically Mongolian. The eyes particularly 

 there is no mistaking. The hair is straight. The colour is yellowish, 

 but never dark. 



2. Language is liable to disturbances, and has been perhaps too 

 much taken as a sure guide, but it is always of great assistance, and 

 in 19 cases out of 20 tells a true tale. In practice I think that no 

 considerable philological acquirements are necessary to enable an ob- 

 server to make most useful observations of a language quite unknown 

 to him, if he can only get the rudest interpreter. There are certain 



