286 



JOURNAL, R.A.S, (CEYLON). 



[Vol. IX. 



originated from Negritos, it is most probably a mistake. The 

 Negritos known to us have that woolly hair which consists of 

 small, close, spiral rolls, quite similar to the Blacks of Africa, 

 and not only to the Niger proper, but, as lately discussed, 

 also to the Caffirs and the other Bantu nations. In the case of 

 the Africans, each spiral roll is so hard that it feels like a 

 solid body. In the case of the Negritos the rolls are some- 

 what soft, from the fineness of each individual hair. Our 

 Ceylonese show the very opposite of this. They are in the 

 plainest meaning of the term smooth-haired, without the 

 shade of a curl ; the beautiful appearance of their long black 

 hair is certainly improved by the care they bestow upon it, 

 but no Negrito is capable, so far as we know, by any amount 

 of care to change his hair in a similar manner. 



Even the Dravidian Indians have nothing of the Negrito 

 hair. One must therefore look to other sources than this, and 

 it is possible that they are a very mixed race. As far as 

 language is concerned, the Sinhalese must be referred to an 

 Aryan origin. Their history favours this idea ; but are, on 

 this account, Mongolian and Malayan connections to be 

 excluded ? I cannot believe it ; at all events, I can say that 

 many among the people presented to me, especially among the 

 women, seem to point to Eastern relationships, and that 

 if these people are really Sinhalese, without any fresh mix- 

 ture of blood, then must the Sinhalese race be looked upon 

 as a mixed race in the highest degree. 



