460 journal, e.a.s. (ceylon). [Vol. IX. 



to all the inclemencies of the weather, without regular 

 habitations, and, moreover, dirty in the extreme — conditions 

 which, even in our climate and under much less trying 

 circumstances, would be enough to bronze the skin very 

 deeply. The Sinhalese, on the other hand, are more or less 

 completely clothed, wearing something at least on the lower 

 part of the body, live in regular houses under relatively 

 favourable conditions, and are often distinguished for great 

 cleanliness. If then, as reported by travellers, very dark, 

 almost black individuals are by no means uncommon among 

 them, it is certainly a noteworthy fact. 



The character of the hair also is plainly similar, only that 

 here the effect of culture is conspicuous to a much higher 

 degree. Whilst the Veddas never comb theirs, — perhaps, in 

 general, do not interfere with it in any way, — so that from year 

 to year it becomes more and more dishevelled, and in a bushy 

 matted mass covers head, face, and shoulders, the Sinhalese 

 exercise a quite unusual womanly care in smoothing and 

 arranging their hair. Both tribes, however, wear the hair long ; 

 it is black, luxuriant, and a little wavy ; only with the Veddas, 

 owing to neglect, it hangs down in a tangled but not curly 

 manner ; the tresses, properly speaking, notwithstanding, are 

 neither curly nor woolly. We will add that in single cases 

 a more curly kind of hair is seen, as in that of the elder man 

 among the drawings given,* though even in his case the hair 

 is long and wholly different from the little close rolls and 

 woolly hair of the real Negroes and Negritos. Had it early 

 been cleaned and combed it would probably be like that 

 of the Sinhalese, glossy as ebony. The picture of the young 

 girl in the drawing* seems to exhibit just this improvement. 



A very remarkable statement, looking at the matter as it 

 were from the other side, is to be found in d'Albertis.t This 

 traveller had engaged in Point de Galle, two Sinhalese for 



* No drawings are reproduced. — Hon, Sec, 



f L. M. d'Albertis. New Guinea. London, 1880, vol. I., p. 259. 



