Page:Tamil studies.djvu/38

Rh forest tribes and some low caste Hindus, but it cannot apply to the population of Southern India as a whole. It will be adınitted that three types of physical character are observable in the Tamil districts corresponding to the three different races already noticed. First, there are the Aryans with a somewhat fair complexion, tall stature, aquiline nose, small lips, smooth and flowing hair. Secondly, the pure Dravidian like the Todas of the Nilgiris, tall, brown complexioned, with thick prominent nose, hairy body, well-proportioned limbs, receding fore. head and of Jewish appearance. And thirdly, we have the aborigines like the Kadars, with African face, flattish and broad nose, thick lips and dark complexioned; and the pot-bellied Kurumbas with wild matted hair, large imouth, prominent outstanding teeth, thick lips and prognathous. Although there must have been intercrossing and shuffling of races from a time long anterior to the Christian era, it is extremely doubtful whether any tribe of the pure Mongolian race had at any time found its way into the Tamil country, as Mr. Kanakasabhai seems to think

The only data available for determini.ng the racial varieties are, (a) Language, (b) Anthropometry, (c) Prehistoric archaeology and (d) Traditions and customs. None of these, however, can independently prove the racial type one way or the other.

(a) No comparative philologist will now admit that language is a safe test of race. Languages have