270 



PHYSICAL HISTORY OF MAN. 



system of polyandry prevails, as among certain classes in the south 

 of India, I did not ascertain. 



The ' DuNGUR,' were encamped near every village of importance, 

 in small huts formed of rush-mats. I have seen these huts, not only 

 hemispherical in shape, but disposed in a circle v^ith their entrances 

 towards the centre ; thus presenting an unexpected resemblance to 

 the 'kraals' of Africa. The Dungur have drays of a very rude and 

 primitive construction ; formed of three cross timbers resting on an 

 axle, the wheels being merely sections of the trunk of a tree. 



The SiKLiGUR, have similar wandering habits; but they hold them- 

 selves aloof, they are less numerous, and are said to exercise the pro- 

 fession of ' chatty-makers,' or tin-men. I fell in with one of their en- 

 campments, which consisted of low woollen tents. This I think, is 

 the class of people, to which the origin of the Gipsies has been some- 

 times referred. 



Some of the numerous Irregular Castes of India, are supposed to 

 be the remains of the aboriginal population. I did not meet with 

 any direct evidence of this; but I am inclined to think, there may 

 be something in the point of view. Some parallelism in social con- 

 dition, seems wanting in the White race; and the required connexion 

 may possibly be traced in the hill-people of Nepaul, the Karens of 

 Birmah, and even tribes situated further to the southeast. 



g. Retui'Ti to Egypt. 



On the 1st of February, I left Bombay in the steamboat Victoria; 

 and after a third visit to Aden, I arrived on the 17th at Suez. 

 Coming from India, I was struck with the ruddy sun-burnt hue of 

 the Egyptians; who now seemed fairer than before ; and I thought 

 I could further distinguish, instances of that width of nostril, which 

 contributes to the un-European expression of the Bramins and Cutch 

 Banians. Within a single year, marked innovations on Arab cus- 

 toms, had taken place at Cairo and Alexandria, in consequence of in- 

 creased intercourse by steamboats with Europe. 



