No. 33. — 1886.] THE VEDDAS OF CEYLON. 



483 



20 years old. These are proportions in part even lower 

 than the measure found for the Veddas, on the whole, 

 however, coming to about the same. 



As regards the capacity of the skull, it is on the average 

 very small. I can state that according to measurements of 

 Andamanese skulls, for which I am indebted to the kindness 

 of Messrs. Macnamara and Man, they reach and even exceed 

 the measure of nannocephaly which the Veddas and 

 Kurumbas present. One of my skulls has a capacity of only 

 940 cub. cm., another shows 970, a third 1,050. 



As great as the similarity in these figures is the difference 

 in the form of the skulls. The Andamanese, as well as the 

 Negritos generally, are in reality brachy cephalic, and this one 

 circumstance distinguishes them definitely from all the 

 Ceylon races. If we add to this that their hair grows in 

 spiral coils, and is to be classed with the woolly hair of the 

 genuine negro, then every possibility disappears of a union 

 with the Veddas, unless we assume that climatic influences 

 have specially affected the hair. The complexion also 

 presents considerable variation. Since most reporters call it 

 pure black with the Andamanese, the Veddas are generally 

 described as lighter, and even by the very trustworthy Davy 

 as resembling the Sinhalese. 



Even less analogy is found between Veddas and Austra- 

 lians. We may certainly point out that the hair and even 

 the beard is somewhat like that of the Veddas ; but one 

 glance at the skull, and still more at the skeleton, of the 

 Australian convinces us that here a great and unmistakable 

 contrast exists. In spite of this Mr. Topinard* has recently 

 emphasised the relationship of the Australians as well to 

 the Veddas as to the Bhils, Gonds, Khonds, Mundas, Ku- 

 rumbas, &c. I call attention also in this connection to the 

 sufficient number of reasons to the contrary adduced by his 

 countryman, Mr. Callamand.f 



* Paul Topinard. L' Anthropologic. Paris, 1877. p. 521. 

 f Callamand, I. c. p. 62i. 



