294 



JOURNAL, R.A.S. (CEYLON). [Vol. IX. 



smaller than that of the Tamils, and still more so than that 

 of the Sinhalese. 



Thirdly, the lower jaws of the,Veddas are much narrower 

 than those of their neighbours. A fourth difference is found 

 in the size of the eyes, as the Veddas have the largest and 

 the Sinhalese the smallest eyes of the three, the Tamils 

 ranging here also between the two others. The differences 

 in this last measurement are naturally very small, but 

 still noticeable. 



One of the most striking features in the face of the Vedda 

 is the shape of the nose ; firstly, it is very broad, 40 mm., 

 while with the Sinhalese it is only 39 mm., and with the 

 Tamil 38 mm. ; secondly, the bridge of the nose between the 

 eyes with the Vedda is in most cases very low, sometimes 

 almost flat. This fact gives to the Vedda nose a strange 

 shape, and strikingly influences the features : the bridge is 

 higher with the two other races. The Sinhalese have often 

 very well-formed eagle-shaped noses. 



Besides these peculiarities of the Veddas already men- 

 tioned, shortness of face, narrowness of the back part of the 

 skull and the lower jaw, largeness of the eyes, and lowness 

 of the bridge of the nose, we could mention more differences 

 in the measurements of the head ; but it would lead us too 

 far for the present, and we think it sufficient to show that 

 such peculiarities do exist, and are to be traced by measure- 

 ment. The results which we shall obtain by comparison of 

 the skulls, we shall be glad to lay before this Society after 

 our return to Europe. Taking exact measurements of the 

 limbs is still much more difficult than measuring the head, 

 and of the results obtained we venture only to specify now 

 the following one as fairly well established. The lower arm 

 of the Vedda and also of the Tamil is relatively a little 

 longer than that of the Sinhalese. 



The colour of the Veddas is always a dark and dirty 

 chocolate brown, a colour which is likewise frequently 

 found with Tamils, but seldom amongst Sinhalese. 



