20 



explain the stunted growth of the tribes of "black-skins' to 

 whom even Pliny alludes as " pigmies." All the information 

 we have of them is so imperfect as to admit of being turned to 

 account for any sort of opinion. M. de Quatrefages has 

 collected accounts of the Negritoes in India from which he 

 concludes definitely that Negritoes are still living in various 

 parts of the country. I cannot esteem the evidence sufficient, 

 but will not deny that the question is open to discussion. 



As affording grounds for misgivings, reference may be made 

 to the so-called Negrito race inhabiting several clusters of islands 

 and parts of Malacca, and also to their neighbours, the " little- 

 blacks," who dwell in the Andaman islands. In various 

 respects, as by their dark complexion, the smallness of their 

 frames, and particularly of the head, they unquestionably shew 

 a striking approach to the Veddas and Kurumbas. But the 

 one circumstance of the difference in the form of the skull, 

 which, with the Andamanese as well as the Negritoes generally, 

 is in reality brachycephalic, distinguishes them definitely from 

 all the Ceylon races. When to this is added that their hair 

 grows in spiral coils and is to be classed with the wooly hair of 

 the genuine Negro, every possibility disappears of a connexion 

 with the Veddas, unless we assume that climatic influences 

 have especially affected the hair. Even less analogy is found 

 between Veddas and Australians, although M. Topinard has 

 recently emphasized the supposed relationship of the. Australians 

 to the Veddas, as well as to the Bhils, Gonds, Khandas, 

 Kurumbas, &c. 



Malay element. — Very much more complicated is the ques- 

 tion whether Malay elements were not infused into the aboriginal 

 population of Ceylon. The Malays have extended there settle- 

 ments much further, and even as far as Madagascar, There 

 are, however, no obvious physical indications of such a relation- 

 ship. Only Mr. Williams, an American Missionary in China, 

 observed in the Sinhalese " a Malay expression of countenance." 



Conclusions. — From the foregoing discussion we assume 

 as proved : — 



1st. — That manifold resemblances exist between Veddas 

 and Sinhalese ; and that the origin of the Sinhalese race 



