Chapter 20

The language, as before stated, is admitted to be the American, in respect to its grammatical structure, and can be shown to be so in respect to its vocables.

II. The Peruvians.—Here the question is more complex, the argument varying with the extent we give to the class represented by the Peruvians, and according to the test we take,i.e.according as we separate them from the other Americans on the score of a superior civilization, or on the score of a different physical conformation.

a.When we separate the Peruvians from the other Americans, on the score of a superior civilization, we generally take something more than the Proper Peruvians, and include the Mexicans in the same category.

I do not trouble the reader with telling him what the Peruvio-Mexican (or Mexico-Peruvian) civilization was; the excellent historical works of Prescott show this. I only indicate two points:—

1. The probability of its being over-valued.

2. The fact of its superiority being a matter ofdegreerather than kind.

Phraseology misleads us. We find certain phænomena in the social and political constitution both of Mexico and Peru which put us in mind of certain European customs,e.g.(two amongst many) the dependence of subordinate chiefs on a superior one, and the use of certain ceremonies previous to the warrior's first achievements in war. How easy is it, in such cases, to take a false impression if we illustrate the habits in question by comparisons drawn from European feudalism and chivalry, instead of from their truer analogues, the probationary tortures of tribes like the Mandans, and the constitution of such an empire as Powhattans in Virginia.

Again, phrases, likepicture-writing, are only safe so longas we compare them with their real equivalents; and these are not the painted and sculptured walls of Ægypt, but the rude hide of the Pawni, whereon he scratches or daubs a sketch of his exploits.

More exceptionable still is the termhieroglyphics;[167]of which the following is said to be a specimen. The sign denotingCimatlan, the name of a place, was compounded of the symbol ofCimatl, aroot, andtlan, signifyingnear. Surely this is no example of phonetic spelling.C-i-m-a-tl-tl-a-n, consists of eight elementary articulate sounds. How then can two signs spell it phonetically: eight are required to do it properly; and unless it can be shown that the symbol=cimatlbe in the same category with the letterx(ks), and that it is a compendium for two or more (in this case eight) simple single signs, the phonetic character either falls to the ground, or the term changes its meaning. Again, the spelling is not even syllabic.Cim-atl-an, consists of three syllables; which have only two signs to express them.

The real spelling is neither more nor less than rhæmatographic, with one sign for one word, and two signs for two; just as if in English we spelt the word representing the idea of ashoreby one combination of points and lines, that of ahamby another, and that of the townShore-hamby a combination of the two. Now no one would say that this speltSh-o-re-h-a-m.

One more instance—since I am indicating rather than exhausting lines of criticism—shall be taken from the account of a so-called remarkable phænomenon in the arithmetic of the tribes akin to the Mexican.

Some of the rudest tribes of South America, like thegenerality of the Australians, are unable to count beyond five. The Mexicans, however, have a simple term for twenty. Nay more, for 400 and 8000, they have simple terms also,i.e.for the first and second powers of twenty; just as we have in the wordshundredandthousand, simple undecompounded names for the first and second powers of ten. A great contrast this! exhibiting multiplicational as well as mere numerational arithmetic.

What else?—there is a Notation as well, and certain symbols stand for 20, 800, and 4000.

Gallatin observes, that the symbols thus standing for these numbers also express words equivalent tocompany,regiment, andarmy, in the military system, and, thence, he argues that the vigentesimal system determined the organisation of the legions of Montezuma. I do not say that such was not the case. I believe, however, that it is much more likely that the organisation of the army determined the so-called vigentesimal numeration, and that, just as the word for 20=man(i.e.10 fingers and 10 toes), so the word for 400 was the name of 20 companies of 20, and that for 8,000 the name for 20 regiments of 400.

If this be true, so far from the Mexican multiplying 20 by 20, he might be unable to count to 45; having names for the higher numbers furnished him by an accident, but without terms for the intermediate ones.

As for the agricultural condition of the Mexicans, contrasted, as it may be, with the hunter-state of the Sioux and others, it is no contrast, except in degree, with the habits of theDiggersand other tribes of California and Oregon, where game is scarce and esculent roots abundant; and whilst the archæology of the Valley of the Mississippi shows rudiments of their architecture, the more important confederations, such as the Creek, are analogues of whatmay be somewhat grandiloquently called their imperial organisation.

Then as to the Casas Grandes, surely these show Mexican architecture beyond the area of Mexico (i. e.AztekMexico). But what if they also show the extent to which the Mexican civilisation extended itself? In such a case they prove nothing as to theindependentcivilisational development of the nation on the area where they occur. But is this theonlyinference that they suggest? No. It is not even the most legitimate one. Casas Grandes, in localities a thousand miles from Mexico, indicate, not that the Mexican influence was spread so far beyond the Valley of Mexico, but that more nations than one built with stone and brick. To assume colonisation from community of characteristics is inadmissible.

I have now only to add, that if this sort of criticism—such as it is—has not been shown to be applicable to the Mexican astronomy and the Mexican chronology, it is only because the magnitude of the subject excludes it from the present volume.

b.When we separate the Peruvians from the rest of the Americans, on the score of a different physical conformation, we take something less than the whole nation,i. e.only a particular section of it. How this happens is explained by the following statements:—

1. In the parts about the Lake Titicaca, within the Aymara area, are found, along with vast stone ruins and other remarkable relics of an early age, several burial places of the ancient inhabitants; the skulls of which are flattened in front, behind, or laterally, as the case may be, with the suture of the cranium obliterated.

2. The present inhabitants of this area arenotin the habit of flattening the skull.

3. Theoldrace of the flattened skulls is the race whichappears to have been the executors of theoldestportion of the Peruvian architectural antiquities, and as such, civilised or semi-civilised.

4. ThepresentAymaras exhibit no traces of being the descendants of a people more civilised than themselves.

These facts are generally admitted. It is also, perhaps, as generally admitted that, taken by themselves, they are not sufficient to disconnect what may be called the old Peruvians of Titicaca, from the modern Aymaras; since civilisation may become retrograde, and the habit of flattening skulls, like any other habit, may be abandoned.

But what if the flatness of the old Titicacan skulls be not artificial, butnatural? In this case the Aymaras are anything but the descendants of the civilised flat-head ancestors in question, and the ancient stock itself is extinct—extinct without congeners, and without posterity.

This is no more than what follows from the position that the cranial depression isnatural. On the other hand, if artificial, it falls to the ground.

Now, notwithstanding the very high authorities on the other side, I am not prepared to admit the necessity of a skull having been flattenedin uteroand in the way of normal development, simply and solely because the traces of artificial manipulation are not discoverable. All that any facts of the kind prove, is that Art can imitate Nature most skilfully.

The conclusive proof that the old Titicacans were naturally flat-headed would be the not impossible discovery of a mummiedfœtus, with a facial angle preternaturally acute. Such, however, has yet to be discovered. Till then the Aymaras, who can be proved by historical evidence to have once flattened the forehead, must pass for the descendants of the Titicacans.

What breaks down the distinctions between the Peruvian and Eskimo, breaks downà fortioriall those lesser ones by which the other members of the American population have been separated from each other. Still, as a sample of arrangement, and as a practical exhibition of the differences in physical conformation which are found within the limits of South America, I conclude the section upon the American Mongolidæ with a view of D'Orbigny's classification of the Indians between the Isthmus of Darien and Cape Horn; at the same time referring the reader to his valuable monograph (L'Homme Americain).

Colour, yellow, brown, or copper-red; height, variable; hair, thick, coarse, black, smooth, and long; beard, thin, coarse, black, never wavy, late in making its appearance; chin, short; eyes, small, deep-set; jaws, prominent; teeth, nearly vertical; eyebrows, prominent.

1.Primary divisions, or races (so-called)—

A.Ando-Peruvian.—Colour, olive-brown; stature, low; forehead, either depressed, or but slightly vaulted; eyes, horizontal, neverbridésat their outer angle.

B.Pampa.—Stature, often considerable; forehead, vaulted; eyes, sometimesbridésat the outer angle.

C.Brazilio-Guarani.—Colour, yellowish; forehead, not retreating; eyes, oblique.

A.Ando-Peruvians—

a.Peruvian branch.—Colour, deep olive-brown; form, massive; trunk, long in proportion to the limbs; forehead, retreating; nose, aquiline; mouth, large; physiognomy, sombre.—Aymara and Quichua Peruvians.

b.Antisian branch.—Colour, varying from a deep olive to nearly white; form, not massive; forehead, not retreating; physiognomy, lively, mild.—Yuracares, Mocéténès, Tacanas, Maropas, and Apolistas.

c.Araucanian branch.—Colour, light olive; form, massive; trunk, somewhat disproportionately long; face, nearly circular; nose, short and flat; lips, thin; physiognomy, sombre, cold.—Indians of Chili and the Chonos Archipelago. The Fuegians.

B.Pampas—

a.Pampa branch.—Colour, deep olive-brown, ormarron; form, Herculean; forehead, vaulted; face, large, flat, oblong; nose, short; nostrils, large; mouth, wide; lips, large; eyes, horizontal; physiognomy, cold, often savage.—Indians of the Chaco and Patagonia.

b.Chiquito branch.—Colour, light olive; form, moderately robust; mouth, moderate; lips, thin; features, delicate; physiognomy, lively.—Indians of the Mission of Chiquitos.

c.Moxos branch.—Form, robust; lips, thickish; eyes, notbridés; physiognomy, mild.—The Indians of the Mission of Moxos.

C.Brazilio-Guarani.—A simple branch.—Colour, yellowish, with a slight tinge of red; form, massive; height, moderate; face, circular; nose, short and straight; nostrils, narrow; mouth, moderate; lips, thin; eyes, oblique; eyebrows, prominent; features, delicate (efféminés); physiognomy mild.—Guarani, Caribs(?), and all the unplaced tribes of Paraguay, Brazil, the Guianas, and Venezuela(?).

FOOTNOTES:[104]The g is sounded hard.[105]As the Frenchninbon.[106]Transactions of the British Association, &c., 1847, p. 121.[107]United States Exploring Expedition.[108]Transactions of the American Ethnological Society, vol. ii. p. 105.[109]United States Exploring Expedition—Ethnology, p. 298.[110]Pickering—Races of Men.[111]From the Capital of Massachusetts.[112]King George.[113]Old Man.[114]The name of a European who went mad.[115]The Seal.[116]Savage.[117]Nootkan words.[118]Chinúk.[119]Pickering, from notes of Messrs. Agate and Brackeridge.[120]See p.310.[121]Marked(?) because we find Paduca Kaskaias.[122]A table of the chief affinities between the Bethuck and the other Algonkin languages (or dialects) has been published by the present writer in the Proceedings of the Philological Society for 1850.[123]Transactions of the American Ethnological Society, vol. ii.[124]Ibid.[125]Transactions of American Ethnological Society. II., cxiii.[126]Transactions of Philological Society, 1849 and 1850.[127]Marked(?) because we findAniesamongst the Iroquois (p.333), andIniesamongst the Caddos.[128]The date of Gallatin's Synopsis.[129]See p.349.[130]Transactions of the Ethnological Society, vol. i. Transactions of British Association for the advancement of Science.[131]See p.344.[132]In Mr. Bollaert's list there only appears the name of Wacoes, who are said to be a branch of the Cumanches.[133]Extracted from Prichard, vol. v. p. 304.[134]Transactions of the Literary and Historical Department of the American Philosophical Society, Philadelphia, vol. i.[135]Pp.287.[136]"The only reference we have to the mounds of Oregon is contained in a paragraph in the Narrative of the United States Exploring Expedition, vol. iv. p. 313:—We soon reached the Bute Prairies, which are extensive, and covered with tumuli, or small mounds, at regular distances. As far as I can learn, there is no tradition among the natives concerning them: they are conical mounds, thirty feet in diameter, about six or seven feet above the level,and many thousands in number. Being anxious to ascertain if they contained any relics, I subsequently visited these prairies, and opened three of the mounds, but found nothing in them but a pavement of round stones."[137]Smithsonian Contributions, p. 2.[138]Some of these have been published,e.g.in the Philological Transactions.[139]Gallatin, in American Ethnological Transactions, cxxxi.[140]As may be seen in p.370.[141]We have just seen that this, in the American languages, is the case even in words likeJohn's hand, which would, there, beJohn he hand.[142]For further criticism see the remarks on the Otomi language.[143]Transactions of American Ethnological Society, vol. ii. pp. xxxviii. and li.[144]Vol. iii. p. 3.[145]The reasons for the italics and the(?) may be seen in p.397.[146]Transactions of the American Ethnological Society, vol. ii. p. 83.[147]Prichard, vol. v. p. 423.[148]New Mexico and California. By E. G. Squier, M.A.[149]American Review, for November, 1848.[150]See p.390.[151]From a short, but unique vocabulary of Lieutenant Emory's.[152]The meaning of the Italics may be seen in p.397.[153]The meaning of the italics may be seen in p.397.[154]We have no vocabulary of the Pimos Indians of the Gila, north of the Apaches.[155]Travels in the Interior of Mexico, p. 465.[156]See p.410.[157]Transactions of the American Philosophical Society, 1835.[158]Published by the Hackluyt Society.[159]Dampier's Voyages.[160]See Prichard, vol. v., p. 479.[161]Of Easter Island.[162]See p.428.[163]Schomburgk, Transactions of the Ethnological Society.[164]Perhaps in such terms asXanthus=Scamander,Briareus=Ægcon, we have the phænomenon of a second language.[165]Ethnological Transactions, Vol. I.[166]E.=Eskimo, A.=Algonkin, I.=Iroquois, S.=Sioux, C.=Cherokee.[167]Of course, I meanPhonetichieroglyphics; since it is only these that indicate a higher civilization than picture-writing.

[104]The g is sounded hard.

[105]As the Frenchninbon.

[106]Transactions of the British Association, &c., 1847, p. 121.

[107]United States Exploring Expedition.

[108]Transactions of the American Ethnological Society, vol. ii. p. 105.

[109]United States Exploring Expedition—Ethnology, p. 298.

[110]Pickering—Races of Men.

[111]From the Capital of Massachusetts.

[112]King George.

[113]Old Man.

[114]The name of a European who went mad.

[115]The Seal.

[116]Savage.

[117]Nootkan words.

[118]Chinúk.

[119]Pickering, from notes of Messrs. Agate and Brackeridge.

[120]See p.310.

[121]Marked(?) because we find Paduca Kaskaias.

[122]A table of the chief affinities between the Bethuck and the other Algonkin languages (or dialects) has been published by the present writer in the Proceedings of the Philological Society for 1850.

[123]Transactions of the American Ethnological Society, vol. ii.

[124]Ibid.

[125]Transactions of American Ethnological Society. II., cxiii.

[126]Transactions of Philological Society, 1849 and 1850.

[127]Marked(?) because we findAniesamongst the Iroquois (p.333), andIniesamongst the Caddos.

[128]The date of Gallatin's Synopsis.

[129]See p.349.

[130]Transactions of the Ethnological Society, vol. i. Transactions of British Association for the advancement of Science.

[131]See p.344.

[132]In Mr. Bollaert's list there only appears the name of Wacoes, who are said to be a branch of the Cumanches.

[133]Extracted from Prichard, vol. v. p. 304.

[134]Transactions of the Literary and Historical Department of the American Philosophical Society, Philadelphia, vol. i.

[135]Pp.287.

[136]"The only reference we have to the mounds of Oregon is contained in a paragraph in the Narrative of the United States Exploring Expedition, vol. iv. p. 313:—We soon reached the Bute Prairies, which are extensive, and covered with tumuli, or small mounds, at regular distances. As far as I can learn, there is no tradition among the natives concerning them: they are conical mounds, thirty feet in diameter, about six or seven feet above the level,and many thousands in number. Being anxious to ascertain if they contained any relics, I subsequently visited these prairies, and opened three of the mounds, but found nothing in them but a pavement of round stones."

[137]Smithsonian Contributions, p. 2.

[138]Some of these have been published,e.g.in the Philological Transactions.

[139]Gallatin, in American Ethnological Transactions, cxxxi.

[140]As may be seen in p.370.

[141]We have just seen that this, in the American languages, is the case even in words likeJohn's hand, which would, there, beJohn he hand.

[142]For further criticism see the remarks on the Otomi language.

[143]Transactions of American Ethnological Society, vol. ii. pp. xxxviii. and li.

[144]Vol. iii. p. 3.

[145]The reasons for the italics and the(?) may be seen in p.397.

[146]Transactions of the American Ethnological Society, vol. ii. p. 83.

[147]Prichard, vol. v. p. 423.

[148]New Mexico and California. By E. G. Squier, M.A.

[149]American Review, for November, 1848.

[150]See p.390.

[151]From a short, but unique vocabulary of Lieutenant Emory's.

[152]The meaning of the Italics may be seen in p.397.

[153]The meaning of the italics may be seen in p.397.

[154]We have no vocabulary of the Pimos Indians of the Gila, north of the Apaches.

[155]Travels in the Interior of Mexico, p. 465.

[156]See p.410.

[157]Transactions of the American Philosophical Society, 1835.

[158]Published by the Hackluyt Society.

[159]Dampier's Voyages.

[160]See Prichard, vol. v., p. 479.

[161]Of Easter Island.

[162]See p.428.

[163]Schomburgk, Transactions of the Ethnological Society.

[164]Perhaps in such terms asXanthus=Scamander,Briareus=Ægcon, we have the phænomenon of a second language.

[165]Ethnological Transactions, Vol. I.

[166]E.=Eskimo, A.=Algonkin, I.=Iroquois, S.=Sioux, C.=Cherokee.

[167]Of course, I meanPhonetichieroglyphics; since it is only these that indicate a higher civilization than picture-writing.

The present notice of the Mongolidæ of Hindostan will contain little beyond an enumeration of their chief divisions. The further questions—too numerous, even in their proper place, to be considered in detail—will be found in the ethnography of the Iapetidæ.

Area.—Hindustan, Cashmere, Ceylon, the Maldives and Laccadives, part of Beloochistan.Conterminouswith the Iapetidæ(?) of Beloochistan and Cabúl, the Seriform tribes of Little Tibet and the Sub-Himalayan countries of Bisahur, Nepaul, Sikkim, the Koch and Bodo country, the Garo country, Assam, and Aracan.Political relations.—Chiefly either English or Independent. Partially French, Dutch, Danish, and Portuguese.Religions.—Brahminism, Buddism, with a variety of eclectic and intermediate creeds, Parsi fireworship, Mahometanism, with creeds intermediate to it and Brahminism or Buddhism, Paganism, fragments or rudiments of Judaism and Christianity.Physical condition of country.—Chiefly intertropical, witha.Fluviatile alluvia (deltas of the Indus and Ganges).b.Mountain and forest ranges (the Ghants, &c.).c.Sandy steppes (Ajmeer and the Punjaub).d.Portions of the Himalayan range (Cashmere).Social and civilizational influences.—a.Ante-Mahometan; Persian, and Greek.b.Mahometan; Arabic, Persian, Turk, Mongol.c.Recent; Portuguese, Dutch, French, Danish, British.Physical conformation.—The two extreme forms.—a.Colour dark, or even black, skin coarse, nasal profile flattened, cheek-bones prominent, lips thick, hair coarse and generally straight, beard scanty, limbs oftener slender than massive, stature oftener short than tall.b.Colour brunette, sometimes of great clearness and delicacy, skin delicate, nose aquiline, eyebrows arched and delicate, frontal profile perpendicular, cranium dolikhokephalic, zygomatic development moderate, lips thin, stature sometimes tall, limbs often powerful, the whole body being well-formed, even when not muscular, and the face oval, with regular and expressive features.Habits.—Agricultural and industrial. More rarely pastoral. Sometimes predatory.Nutrition.—Varied. Sometimes nearly wholly vegetable; sometimes almost exclusively animal.Social constitution.—Castes; the higher the caste, the more predominant the second type of physical conformation.Intermixture.—Arabs on the western, Malays, Indo-Chinese, on the eastern coast. In earlier time, Turanian Turks, Mongols, Scythians(?), Persians.Emigrant and Indians.—1. The Gypsies. 2. Hindu traders in different parts of Asia.Frontier.—Partlyencroachingon that of the Sub-Himalayan Seriform tribes (i.e., in Kumaon, Gurhwhal, and Bisahur), partlyreceding,i.e.in Nepaul.Antiquities.—Rock temples, tombs, columns, coins, inscriptions in the Pali. Ancient literature in the Sanskrit language.Epochs.—1. Ante-historical Persian,i.e.the epoch of the introduction of the languages represented by the Sanskrit, and the germs of the Brahminical system. 2. Macedonian, from the time of Alexander to the breaking-up of the Indo-Bactrian kingdom. 3. Mahometan. 4. European.Alphabets.—1. With the letters more square than round, manifestly derived from the Sanskrit. 2. With the letters more round than square, derived from the Sanskrit, but not so visibly as the former.Divisions.—1. The Tamul. 2. The Pulinda. 3. The Brahúi. 4. The Indo-Gangetic. 5. The Purbutti. 6. The Cashmirian. 7. The Cingalese. 8. The Maldivian.

Area.—Hindustan, Cashmere, Ceylon, the Maldives and Laccadives, part of Beloochistan.

Conterminouswith the Iapetidæ(?) of Beloochistan and Cabúl, the Seriform tribes of Little Tibet and the Sub-Himalayan countries of Bisahur, Nepaul, Sikkim, the Koch and Bodo country, the Garo country, Assam, and Aracan.

Political relations.—Chiefly either English or Independent. Partially French, Dutch, Danish, and Portuguese.

Religions.—Brahminism, Buddism, with a variety of eclectic and intermediate creeds, Parsi fireworship, Mahometanism, with creeds intermediate to it and Brahminism or Buddhism, Paganism, fragments or rudiments of Judaism and Christianity.

Physical condition of country.—Chiefly intertropical, witha.Fluviatile alluvia (deltas of the Indus and Ganges).b.Mountain and forest ranges (the Ghants, &c.).c.Sandy steppes (Ajmeer and the Punjaub).d.Portions of the Himalayan range (Cashmere).

Social and civilizational influences.—a.Ante-Mahometan; Persian, and Greek.b.Mahometan; Arabic, Persian, Turk, Mongol.c.Recent; Portuguese, Dutch, French, Danish, British.

Physical conformation.—The two extreme forms.—a.Colour dark, or even black, skin coarse, nasal profile flattened, cheek-bones prominent, lips thick, hair coarse and generally straight, beard scanty, limbs oftener slender than massive, stature oftener short than tall.

b.Colour brunette, sometimes of great clearness and delicacy, skin delicate, nose aquiline, eyebrows arched and delicate, frontal profile perpendicular, cranium dolikhokephalic, zygomatic development moderate, lips thin, stature sometimes tall, limbs often powerful, the whole body being well-formed, even when not muscular, and the face oval, with regular and expressive features.

Habits.—Agricultural and industrial. More rarely pastoral. Sometimes predatory.

Nutrition.—Varied. Sometimes nearly wholly vegetable; sometimes almost exclusively animal.

Social constitution.—Castes; the higher the caste, the more predominant the second type of physical conformation.

Intermixture.—Arabs on the western, Malays, Indo-Chinese, on the eastern coast. In earlier time, Turanian Turks, Mongols, Scythians(?), Persians.

Emigrant and Indians.—1. The Gypsies. 2. Hindu traders in different parts of Asia.

Frontier.—Partlyencroachingon that of the Sub-Himalayan Seriform tribes (i.e., in Kumaon, Gurhwhal, and Bisahur), partlyreceding,i.e.in Nepaul.

Antiquities.—Rock temples, tombs, columns, coins, inscriptions in the Pali. Ancient literature in the Sanskrit language.

Epochs.—1. Ante-historical Persian,i.e.the epoch of the introduction of the languages represented by the Sanskrit, and the germs of the Brahminical system. 2. Macedonian, from the time of Alexander to the breaking-up of the Indo-Bactrian kingdom. 3. Mahometan. 4. European.

Alphabets.—1. With the letters more square than round, manifestly derived from the Sanskrit. 2. With the letters more round than square, derived from the Sanskrit, but not so visibly as the former.

Divisions.—1. The Tamul. 2. The Pulinda. 3. The Brahúi. 4. The Indo-Gangetic. 5. The Purbutti. 6. The Cashmirian. 7. The Cingalese. 8. The Maldivian.

Area.—Continuous. The Dekhan, from Cape Comorin to an irregular line from Goa, west, to Chicacole, east.Physical appearance.—Chiefly referable to the first type. Complexion oftener a black than a clear brunette; the latter, however, the case with certain hill-tribes (the Tudahs of the Nilgherries). A high stature and aquiline nose rarer than with Indo-Gangetic tribes. Lips often thick. Skull probably more dolikhokephalic than brakhykephalic. Maxillary profile often prognathic. The general physiognomy exhibiting many points common to the African.Religion.—Paganism, and in the cases of Brahminism, with a considerable amount of the original Paganism intermixed.Language.—Containing Sanskrit words in proportion to thenon-Pagan character of the tribe by which it is spoken; in no case, however, are they so numerous as to prevent the originalnon-Sanskritic character of the language from being admitted.Alphabets.—Of the second class.Quasi-Pulinda[168]sections of the population.—Tudahs, Buddugurs, Erulars, Curumbars, Cohatars.Languages.—a.The Tamul Proper.—Falling into two varieties,a.The High Tamul or Literary Dialect, and,b.The Low Tamul.Spoken.From the parts about Pulicat to Cape Comorin, and as far west as Coimbatoor, the south portion of Mysore.Conterminouswith the Telinga (Teluga), Kanara, and Malayálam.b.Tbelinga(Telugu).a.High.b.Low.Spoken, immediately to the north of the Tamul from Pulicat to about 18° north latitude on the coast, and as far inland as Bangalore south, and the head-waters of the river Tapti, north.Conterminouswith the Udiya, the Mahratta, certain Pulinda dialects(?), and the Kanara.c.Kanara.—a.High,b.Low.Central part of the Deccan from Beder, north, to the lower-third of Mysore, south.Conterminouswith the Mahratta, Telinga, certain Pulinda dialects, the Udiya, the Telugu, the Kanarese, and the Tamul.d.Tulava.—A dialect of the Kanarese. Spoken on the western coast between Goa and Mangalore,i.e.chiefly in the province of Kanara.e.Malayálam.—South-west coast, from the limits of the Kanara to Cape Comorin.f.Coorgi.—Spoken in Coorg. Unwritten.g.Tudah.—Mountaineers of the Nilgherri Hills. Unwritten.

Area.—Continuous. The Dekhan, from Cape Comorin to an irregular line from Goa, west, to Chicacole, east.

Physical appearance.—Chiefly referable to the first type. Complexion oftener a black than a clear brunette; the latter, however, the case with certain hill-tribes (the Tudahs of the Nilgherries). A high stature and aquiline nose rarer than with Indo-Gangetic tribes. Lips often thick. Skull probably more dolikhokephalic than brakhykephalic. Maxillary profile often prognathic. The general physiognomy exhibiting many points common to the African.

Religion.—Paganism, and in the cases of Brahminism, with a considerable amount of the original Paganism intermixed.

Language.—Containing Sanskrit words in proportion to thenon-Pagan character of the tribe by which it is spoken; in no case, however, are they so numerous as to prevent the originalnon-Sanskritic character of the language from being admitted.

Alphabets.—Of the second class.

Quasi-Pulinda[168]sections of the population.—Tudahs, Buddugurs, Erulars, Curumbars, Cohatars.

Languages.—a.The Tamul Proper.—Falling into two varieties,a.The High Tamul or Literary Dialect, and,b.The Low Tamul.

Spoken.From the parts about Pulicat to Cape Comorin, and as far west as Coimbatoor, the south portion of Mysore.

Conterminouswith the Telinga (Teluga), Kanara, and Malayálam.

b.Tbelinga(Telugu).a.High.b.Low.

Spoken, immediately to the north of the Tamul from Pulicat to about 18° north latitude on the coast, and as far inland as Bangalore south, and the head-waters of the river Tapti, north.

Conterminouswith the Udiya, the Mahratta, certain Pulinda dialects(?), and the Kanara.

c.Kanara.—a.High,b.Low.

Central part of the Deccan from Beder, north, to the lower-third of Mysore, south.

Conterminouswith the Mahratta, Telinga, certain Pulinda dialects, the Udiya, the Telugu, the Kanarese, and the Tamul.

d.Tulava.—A dialect of the Kanarese. Spoken on the western coast between Goa and Mangalore,i.e.chiefly in the province of Kanara.

e.Malayálam.—South-west coast, from the limits of the Kanara to Cape Comorin.

f.Coorgi.—Spoken in Coorg. Unwritten.

g.Tudah.—Mountaineers of the Nilgherri Hills. Unwritten.

The remarkable custom of polyandria,[169]which has been noticed as one of the characters of the Seriform Tibetans, reappears among the Tamuls of Malabar. "The marriages of the Nayrs" (the caste next in dignity to the Brahmins), "so termed, are contracted when they are ten years of age; but the husband never lives with his wife, who remains in the home of her mother or brother, and is at liberty to choose any lover of a rank equal to her own. Her children are not considered as her husband's, nor do they inherit from him. Every man looks upon his sister's children, who alone are connected with him by ties of blood, as his heirs."—Prichard, iv. 161.

Area.—Irregular, and in the present state of our knowledge, discontinuous. Nearly encompassed by that of the Indo-Gangetic Indians. Chiefly mountain-ranges.Physical appearance.—Exclusively of the first type, approaching by an increased zygomatic development, with the northern tribes, that of the Seriform Mongolidæ.Religion.—Absolute Paganism, or Paganism with theminimumamount of Brahminical influences.Languages or dialects.—Numerous. All unwritten, and but partially known. Even when mutually unintelligible, evidently connected with each other. Evidently, also, connected with the Tamuls. Proportion of Sanskrit at theminimum.Vocabularies.—1. Kol. 2. Larka-Kol. 3. Sontal. 4. Soar. 5. Bhumij. 6. Mandala. 7. Rajmahal. 8. Goandi.Divisions.—A.Northern Pulindas.B.Eastern Pulindas.C.Central Pulindas.Distribution.—A.The Ganges on the confines of Bahar and Bengal, in the mountain-range between Baghulpur and Rajmahal.B.Orissa, the Northern Circars, and theEasternpart of Gundwana—Kóls, Khonds, and Soárs.C.WesternGundwana—Goands.

Area.—Irregular, and in the present state of our knowledge, discontinuous. Nearly encompassed by that of the Indo-Gangetic Indians. Chiefly mountain-ranges.

Physical appearance.—Exclusively of the first type, approaching by an increased zygomatic development, with the northern tribes, that of the Seriform Mongolidæ.

Religion.—Absolute Paganism, or Paganism with theminimumamount of Brahminical influences.

Languages or dialects.—Numerous. All unwritten, and but partially known. Even when mutually unintelligible, evidently connected with each other. Evidently, also, connected with the Tamuls. Proportion of Sanskrit at theminimum.

Vocabularies.—1. Kol. 2. Larka-Kol. 3. Sontal. 4. Soar. 5. Bhumij. 6. Mandala. 7. Rajmahal. 8. Goandi.

Divisions.—A.Northern Pulindas.B.Eastern Pulindas.C.Central Pulindas.

Distribution.—A.The Ganges on the confines of Bahar and Bengal, in the mountain-range between Baghulpur and Rajmahal.

B.Orissa, the Northern Circars, and theEasternpart of Gundwana—Kóls, Khonds, and Soárs.

C.WesternGundwana—Goands.

Locality.—Mountains in the neighbourhood of Rajmahal, on the confines of Orissa and Bengal.Physical appearance.—Average height about five feet three inches. "A flat nose seems the characteristic feature, but it is not so flat as that of the Cafirs of Africa, nor are their lips so thick, though generally thicker than the inhabitants of the plain." "Fairer than the Bengalese; have broad faces, small eyes, and flattish or rather turned-up noses; but the Malay, or Chinese character of their features, from whom they are said to be descended, is lost in a great degree on closer inspection."—Asiatic Researches.Pantheon.—Bedo Gossaik, Pow Gossaik, Davary Gossaik, Kali Gossaik, &c.

Locality.—Mountains in the neighbourhood of Rajmahal, on the confines of Orissa and Bengal.

Physical appearance.—Average height about five feet three inches. "A flat nose seems the characteristic feature, but it is not so flat as that of the Cafirs of Africa, nor are their lips so thick, though generally thicker than the inhabitants of the plain." "Fairer than the Bengalese; have broad faces, small eyes, and flattish or rather turned-up noses; but the Malay, or Chinese character of their features, from whom they are said to be descended, is lost in a great degree on closer inspection."—Asiatic Researches.

Pantheon.—Bedo Gossaik, Pow Gossaik, Davary Gossaik, Kali Gossaik, &c.

The tables of Hodgson show the affinity of the Rajmahali with the Kol, Bhumij, and the true Khond dialects of Orissa; as well as with the Goandi of Central India.

Locality.—Beloochistan.Conterminouswith the Indians of Scinde and the Balooches (Biluchi) of Persia.

Locality.—Beloochistan.

Conterminouswith the Indians of Scinde and the Balooches (Biluchi) of Persia.

That the Brahúi numerals were liker those of Southern India than any others, is indicated by Lassen. That the language, in general, is Tamul, may be seen by a comparison of the vocabularies at large. To this fact the Brahúi locality, so far west and north, gives great importance. The date, however, of their occupancy still remains unsettled. They may be recent settlers, or they may be aborigines, for anything known from history.

Area.—The systems of the Indus, and of the Ganges, Northern India. Continuous, but not uninterrupted; Pulinda populations being interspersed.Physical appearance.—Often of the second type, and almost exclusively supplying the standard specimens of it.Religion.—Brahminism, with aminimumamount of Paganism, Buddhism, Mahometanism. Sects, and intermediate creeds. Parseeism.Language.—Non-Sanskritic in respect to its grammar, but so full of Sanskrit vocables as to appear to be Sanskritic in origin.Alphabets.—Of the first class.Quasi-Pulinda populations.—a.Bhils.—In the wider parts of the Vindhya chain, and northern part of the western Ghauts.Kulis.—South of the Bhils of the Ghauts.Ramusis,Berdars.—The Ghauts of the Mahratta country, south of the Kulis.Waralis and Katodis.—The wilder part of the Concan.Languages.—1.The Punjabi.—Conterminous with the Pushtú of Affghanistan. Literature recent, and of Hindu origin. The language of the Sikhs.2.The Multani(Ooch).—Moultan; no native literature.3.The Gipsy.—Considered here because, although spoken by Indians who are spread over Europe and Asia in general, rather than occupants of their natural soil, the Multan is the Indian dialect to which it is most allied.4.The Sindi.—Locality Sinde; native literature little or none.5.The Cutch.—Probably a dialect of the Sindi, or else of—6.The Gujerati.—Spoken in Gujerat. Native literature considerable, especially in respect to writings on the Parsi religion, of which Gujerat is the chief seat.7.Bikhaneer(Vikaneer).—Rajasthana.8.Odipoor.—Ditto.9.Jeypoor.—Ditto.10.Haroti.—Ditto.11.Mewar.—Ditto.12.Malwah.—The province so-called.13.Bundelcund.—Country round Allahabad.14.The Hindi.—Agra, Delhi, Oude, said to form the basis of the Sub-Himalayan languages of Gurwhal, Sirmor, Kumaon, Bisahur, and Nepaul(?).15.The Hindostani.—The Hindi proper converted by the introduction of Persian and other words into a sort of lingua Franca.16.The Maithili.—Spoken in South Bahar.17.The Bengali.—Bengal.18.The Assamese.—South-western part of Assam. Not the indigenous language even to that district. Closely akin to the Bengali, of which it is, perhaps, scarcely more than a dialect. This and the Bengali are conterminous with the monosyllabic languages of the eastern Sub-Himalayan range, and the northern portion of the Transgangetic Peninsula.19.The Udiya.—Spoken in Cuttack and Orissa, as far south as 18° south latitude (there or thereabouts); conterminous with the Bengali on the north.The southern part of the Udiya area is irregularly bounded by portions of thecountry belonging to thefirstclass, and its western by portions belonging to thesecondclass of Indian languages. As the Udiya is the most southern of the Indian tongues belonging to the first division on the east, the—20.Mahratta.—Is the most southern on the west side of the Peninsula; bounded on the north by the Satpura Mountains, as far as Nagpore; thence it follows the course of the Nagpore river as far as its junction with the River Wurda. Westward, the boundary between it and the Kanara (of the second division) runs in an irregular line to Goa.21.The Concani.—The strip of coast between the western Ghauts and the sea between Bombay north, and Goa south. The district of Concana interrupting the area of the Mahratta language, of which, perhaps, it is a dialect.

Area.—The systems of the Indus, and of the Ganges, Northern India. Continuous, but not uninterrupted; Pulinda populations being interspersed.

Physical appearance.—Often of the second type, and almost exclusively supplying the standard specimens of it.

Religion.—Brahminism, with aminimumamount of Paganism, Buddhism, Mahometanism. Sects, and intermediate creeds. Parseeism.

Language.—Non-Sanskritic in respect to its grammar, but so full of Sanskrit vocables as to appear to be Sanskritic in origin.

Alphabets.—Of the first class.

Quasi-Pulinda populations.—a.Bhils.—In the wider parts of the Vindhya chain, and northern part of the western Ghauts.

Kulis.—South of the Bhils of the Ghauts.

Ramusis,Berdars.—The Ghauts of the Mahratta country, south of the Kulis.

Waralis and Katodis.—The wilder part of the Concan.

Languages.—1.The Punjabi.—Conterminous with the Pushtú of Affghanistan. Literature recent, and of Hindu origin. The language of the Sikhs.

2.The Multani(Ooch).—Moultan; no native literature.

3.The Gipsy.—Considered here because, although spoken by Indians who are spread over Europe and Asia in general, rather than occupants of their natural soil, the Multan is the Indian dialect to which it is most allied.

4.The Sindi.—Locality Sinde; native literature little or none.

5.The Cutch.—Probably a dialect of the Sindi, or else of—

6.The Gujerati.—Spoken in Gujerat. Native literature considerable, especially in respect to writings on the Parsi religion, of which Gujerat is the chief seat.

7.Bikhaneer(Vikaneer).—Rajasthana.

8.Odipoor.—Ditto.

9.Jeypoor.—Ditto.

10.Haroti.—Ditto.

11.Mewar.—Ditto.

12.Malwah.—The province so-called.

13.Bundelcund.—Country round Allahabad.

14.The Hindi.—Agra, Delhi, Oude, said to form the basis of the Sub-Himalayan languages of Gurwhal, Sirmor, Kumaon, Bisahur, and Nepaul(?).

15.The Hindostani.—The Hindi proper converted by the introduction of Persian and other words into a sort of lingua Franca.

16.The Maithili.—Spoken in South Bahar.

17.The Bengali.—Bengal.

18.The Assamese.—South-western part of Assam. Not the indigenous language even to that district. Closely akin to the Bengali, of which it is, perhaps, scarcely more than a dialect. This and the Bengali are conterminous with the monosyllabic languages of the eastern Sub-Himalayan range, and the northern portion of the Transgangetic Peninsula.

19.The Udiya.—Spoken in Cuttack and Orissa, as far south as 18° south latitude (there or thereabouts); conterminous with the Bengali on the north.

The southern part of the Udiya area is irregularly bounded by portions of thecountry belonging to thefirstclass, and its western by portions belonging to thesecondclass of Indian languages. As the Udiya is the most southern of the Indian tongues belonging to the first division on the east, the—

20.Mahratta.—Is the most southern on the west side of the Peninsula; bounded on the north by the Satpura Mountains, as far as Nagpore; thence it follows the course of the Nagpore river as far as its junction with the River Wurda. Westward, the boundary between it and the Kanara (of the second division) runs in an irregular line to Goa.

21.The Concani.—The strip of coast between the western Ghauts and the sea between Bombay north, and Goa south. The district of Concana interrupting the area of the Mahratta language, of which, perhaps, it is a dialect.

Distribution.—The Sub-Himalayan range between Cashmir west, and the River Teesta on the borders of Sikkim, east.Area.—Kumaon, Gurwhal, Sirmor, part of Bisahur, Kulu, Chambá, Mandi, Kangrah, Sukhet, Gulihur, Lahoul.Physical appearance.—Hindu, modified by either Seriform intermixture or influences of climate and altitude, or both.Language.—Indo-Gangetic(?). In many cases a near approach to the Hindi; in others, probably, to the Punjabi and the Cashmirian.Religion.—Chiefly Brahminic.Divisions.—1. Central Purbutti, or Khasiyas, in Gurwhal and Kumaon. 2. Eastern Purbutti, from Nepaul to the Bodo frontier; few and equivocal. 3. Western Purbutti, in the parts between the Sutlege and Cashmir.

Distribution.—The Sub-Himalayan range between Cashmir west, and the River Teesta on the borders of Sikkim, east.

Area.—Kumaon, Gurwhal, Sirmor, part of Bisahur, Kulu, Chambá, Mandi, Kangrah, Sukhet, Gulihur, Lahoul.

Physical appearance.—Hindu, modified by either Seriform intermixture or influences of climate and altitude, or both.

Language.—Indo-Gangetic(?). In many cases a near approach to the Hindi; in others, probably, to the Punjabi and the Cashmirian.

Religion.—Chiefly Brahminic.

Divisions.—1. Central Purbutti, or Khasiyas, in Gurwhal and Kumaon. 2. Eastern Purbutti, from Nepaul to the Bodo frontier; few and equivocal. 3. Western Purbutti, in the parts between the Sutlege and Cashmir.

The character of these populations is, as stated above, derived from either the influences of a mountain climate, or from intermixture with Seriform Tibetans, or both.

Admitting the latter as an important element, it then remains to be considered which of the two stocks is the original one. Were the sub-Himalayan terraces originally Seriform and afterwards peopled by Indians, or was the population originally Pulinda, with which was subsequently intermixed an Indo-Gangetic element. This is the uncertainty which is denoted by the note of interrogation(?).

The question which it involves is by no means answered by saying that the advent of the Brahminical Hindus of Gurwhal, Sirmor, and Kumaon, as conquerors and colonists, is a matter of history. Even, then, the nature of the primitive race remains uncertain,i. e.it is an openquestion whether they were southern branches of the Seriform stock, or northern Pulindas; to say nothing about the likelihood of their being intermediate to the two, or different for different parts of the frontier.

That they were Seriform is the likelier doctrine of the two. Still when we see, on the eastern side of the peninsula, how nearly the northern Pulindas of Rajmahal approach the southern Seriform Garos, the difficulties of the question become apparent.

The division of the Purbuttis into three groups is natural. The Khasiyas, in Kumaon and Gurwhal, are Indo-Gangetic Indians with theminimumof intermixture, it being stated that in those two countries the aboriginal impure race is extinct. On the east the extreme tribes are likely to pass into the Bodo and Dhimál, on the west into the Cashmirian type.

Again, the political relations of the eastern Purbutti are with Nepaul. Those of the west with Cashmir and the Punjâb.

As to the real phænomena of intermixture, they can only be ascertained by a great increase of our information for the parts in question; since they are preeminently irregular in their distribution,e. g.in Konawer, where the language is Seriform, and the physiognomy Tibetan, the religion is an imperfect Brahminism; whilst in Jobool (and probably elsewhere) we find by the side of a Hindu language and physiognomy the custom of Polyandria, common to both the Seriform Tibetans and the Tamul Malabars.

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