176 



PHYSICAL HISTORY OF MAN. 



EASTERN HINDOSTAN. 



' Lascars' usually enter into the composition of the crews of Anglo- 

 Indian vessels ; and they thus reach Manila ; where I once met with 

 four or five of them in the streets. I did not, however, hear of any 

 who were permanently settled at the Philippine Islands. 



At Sooloo, I saw two Lascars ; who had been brought there equally 

 though indirectly through the agency of Europeans, and were held in 

 a state of captivity. As they stood in the midst of the native popu- 

 lation, the ' hatchet-face,' the more prominent nose, and darker com- 

 plexion, rendered them quite conspicuous. 



At Singapore, on the other hand, the Hindoos had principally ar- 

 rived by their own means of emigration ; in the manner described by 

 Crawfurd and others. Next to the Chinese, they formed the most 

 considerable part of the population ; and like them, they were mere 

 visiters, bringing no women with them, and purposing to return after 

 a series of years. A large proportion, were from Peninsular India; 

 and were called ' Telinga people,' or more commonly, ' Klings.' 



Coming as we did, from among the tribes of the further East, the 

 transition to the Hindoos and Chinese, was very striking. Not on 

 account of the costume, which continued, in many instances, as 

 scanty as in the Pacific ; while the dances, shows, and processions, 

 might have passed for mummeries ; but these, had accompanied all 

 the substantial advantages of civilization, laws, civil order, security of 

 person and property, from a period anterior to the rise of Greece and 

 Rome. We were looking upon people, who have remained essen- 

 tially the same throughout the revolutions which have befallen other 

 nations ; and upon ceremonies, that for aught we can see to the con- 

 trary, may yet be destined to survive the institutions of Europe and 

 the West. 



While we were at Singapore, a play was performed by the Hindoo 

 workmen residing on Mr. Balestier's plantation. In the music, I re- 

 marked a similarity to the Spanish airs heard on the western coast 

 of America; but I should hardly have ventured an opinion on this 

 point, had not Mr. Rich, (who passed his earlier years in Spain,) 

 recognised the identity. The connexion may probably be esta- 

 blished through the Muslims; but I must leave it to others, to decide 

 upon the relative claims of priority. 



