484 JOURNAL, r.a.s. (ceylon). [Vol. IX. 



Very much more complicated is the question whether 

 Malay elements were not infused into the aboriginal popula- 

 tion of Ceylon, which from the peculiar rigging of their 

 boats has been concluded, not without substantial grounds. 

 The fact that the Malays have extended their settlements 

 much further, even as far as Madagascar, suggests the idea 

 that they may have established upon Ceylon a kind of 

 midway station. There are, however, no obvious physical 

 indications of such a relationship, and I would therefore 

 enter into no further discussion of this possibility, the less 

 so since the generally assumed connection of the Malays with 

 the ancient inhabitants of India impedes such investigation 

 very greatly. The single recent statement of a physical 

 resemblance between Sinhalese and Malays, which I find 

 is by an American missionary in China, Mr. Williams,* who 

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



From the foregoing discussion we assume as proved : — 



(1.) That manifold resemblances exist between the Veddds 

 and the S'mhalese, and that the origin of the Sinhalese race 

 from a mixture of Veddds and immigrants from India 

 possesses great 'probability, as well upon historical as also 

 upon anthropological grounds. 



(2.) That the Veddds as well as the Sinhalese in the main 

 features are distinguished from the Ceylon Tamils, and 

 equally from those of Tanjore (Chola). 



(3.) That, on the other hand, among the remnants of the 

 old Dravidian or perhaps pre-Dravidian tribes of Hindus- 

 tan we find even to-day evidence of analog ies with the Veddds. 



Have the Yeddas remained in the condition of the proto- 

 Dravidians, or possibly pre-Dravidians, or have they in their 

 isolation sunk to a lower state ? In other words, are they 

 ethnologically to be turned to account in order to paint 

 anew the picture of this primitive period ? 



* United States Exploring- Expedition during- the years 1838-42. Vol. 

 IX. Pickering. The Races of Man. Philadelphia, 1818. p. 136. 



