Ethnology of India

This book offers a comprehensive exploration of human populations, with a primary focus on India and its neighboring regions. It highlights the significant scientific and practical importance of this ethnologically diverse area. The author emphasizes that British territories extend beyond Hindostan, encompassing regions like Arakan, Pegu, Tenasserim provinces, portions of Caubul, and Himalayan districts, each characterized by unique political and ethnic attributes. The discussion begins by examining populations with affinities to Tibetans and Burmese, emphasizing shared language, physical characteristics, and cultural practices. These groups predominantly inhabit northern and northeastern India, including Ladak, Nepaul, Sikkim, and areas east of the Bay of Bengal. Some show Tibetan or Burmese roots, while others, like the Nepalese, demonstrate Hindu influences, and a few, like the Bodo and Garo, are considered part of the Indian population. The text also explores the politically significant Persian frontier, bordering British holdings in the Punjab and Sind, which holds great ethnological importance, as it’s believed to be the source of many distinctly Indian characteristics.