106 



THE PIGMIES. 



Let us say, to begin with, that these differences are very small 

 when bearing on the characteristic which interests us the most, in 

 fact the special feature which has led us to this investigation. 

 Everywhere the stature of Negritos is sufficiently low to allow of 

 their being placed among the smallest races on earth. The 

 unanimous testimony brought by travellers during a long period 

 has cleared up all doubt on the subject, but they only applied 

 themselves to general and vague observations, we, on the contrary, 

 possess at present exact and sufficiently numerous measurements 

 for three of the principal Negrito stations, that is, for Luzon, the 

 Andaman Islands and the Malay Peninsula. 



Two French travellers — MM. Makche and Montano ( x ) — have 

 quite lately visited Luzon and measured native Aetas, the former 

 at Binangonan of Lampon on the Pacific Coast, the latter in the 

 Sierra de Marivelcs. They have kindly communicated the results 

 to me, and authorised me to publish the following summary : — 



Maximum. Minimum. Average. 



M. Marche, 



Dr. Montano, 



(7n 

 (3w 



men 

 omen 



18 men ( 2 ) 

 12 women 



l m 472 

 l m 376 



l m 575 



l m 485 



l m 354 

 l m 310 



l m 425 



l m 350 



l m 397 

 l m 336 



lm485 

 1*431 



These figures would seem to show that the mountain population 

 is, on the average, slightly taller than the coast tribes ; but it may 

 be, perhaps, that M. Montano, having been able to measure a 

 greater number of natives, has approached reality more closely. 



(i) MM. Makche and Montano were sent, on a scientific mission, to 

 the Philippine Islands by the " Ministere de 1' Instruction Publique," and 

 both fulfilled their duty in a most remarkable manner. M. Maeche con- 

 fined himself to exploring- Luzon. His collections are very valuable in a zoo- 

 logical as well as anthropological point of view. The exhibition he made at 

 the " Societe de G-eographie " drew very great attention by the variety 

 and ethnological value of many of the articles exposed. 



M. Montano, after having spent some time in the neighbourhood of Manilla, 

 went over to Mindanao and explored some of the least known regions. He 

 also brought back most important and varied collections. Moreover, he 

 communicated to the "Societe de Geographie" a mass of observations, 

 notes, itineraries and maps, so complete and valuable as to deserve 

 the " Prix Logerot " (gold medal), which was awarded to him on Dr. Hamy's 

 report at the public meeting of the 28th April, 1882. 



(2) In a note he gave me, M. Montano remarks that, out of the 18 

 men he measured, 5 only exceeded l m 50. 



