Anthropology in Madras

Abstract

WHEN recently on furlough in England, I was greatly interested in hunting up the facilities for the study of anthropology in London, and in the scheme for the establishment of a bureau of ethnology for the British Empire. And it has been suggested to me that it may interest those concerned in the development of anthropological research to know what is being done, in a mild way, in a remote possession of the Empire, the Madras Presidency, viz. the southern portion of the Indian peninsula. I add this geographical explanation, inasmuch as a friendly critic, in a recent review of my work, got hopelessly mixed between Madras and Bengal, reminding me of the story of the Viceroy-elect, who was overheard murmuring to himself, “Bombay in the west, Calcutta in the east, Madras in the south.” Wide as is the area, and numerous as are the tribes, castes, and races included within my limited beat of 150,000 square miles, I have set myself the task, which must perforce occupy many years, of carrying out a detailed anthropological survey. This survey was, with the approval of the Madras Government, inaugurated in 1894. In that year, equipped with a set of anthropometric instruments obtained on loan from the Asiatic Society of Bengal, I commenced an investigation of the hill-tribes of the Nilgiris, the.Todas, Kotas, and Badagas, bringing down on myself the unofficial criticism that “anthropological research at high altitudes is eminently indicated when the thermometer registers 100° in Madras.” From this modest beginning have resulted: (1) investigation of the various classes which inhabit the city of Madras, during my residence at headquarters; (2) periodical tours to various parts of the Presidency, with a view to the study of the more important tribes and classes; (3) the publication of bulletins, wherein the results of my work are embodied; (4) the establishment of an anthropological laboratory (Fig. 1), equipped with the apparatus necessary for carrying out anthropometric research; apparatus for testing sight, hearing, vital capacity, handgrip, &c.; a small series of Hindu, Muhammadan, Burmese and Sinhalese skulls; and an anthropomorphic series, still in a very early stage of development, but including the finger-print impressions of an Orang-utan; (5) a collection of photographs of native types, arranged in albums; (6) a series of lantern-slides for lecture purposes.