The northern, _i.e._ the light-coloured, Indians, or Aryas, are said by the Greeks of this period to have most closely resembled the Egyptians in the colour of their skin and their shape. They were light, delicate, and slim of body, and not so heavy as other nations. They were free from diseases, for their climate was healthy, and their land possessed good air, pure water, and wholesome fruits. The southern Indians, _i.e._ the non-Aryan population, who were at that time far less broken up in the Deccan by Aryan and other settlers than now, and must therefore have existed in far greater masses, were not quite so black as the Ethiopians (the negroes), and had not, like them, a snub nose and woolly hair. Strabo was of opinion that their colour was not so black owing to the moist air of India, which also caused the hair of the inhabitants to be straight.[48] Of the 200 millions, at which the population of India is now estimated, more then 150 millions either spring from the Aryas or have adopted their civilisation. The number of the dark-coloured races, dwelling in the mountains and broad marshes, who have remained free from the dominion of the Aryas, the Mohammedans, and the English, and are, therefore, strangers to their civilisation, is estimated at 12 millions. FOOTNOTES: [1] Whitney, "Language," p. 327; Benfey, "Geschichte der Sprachwissenchaft," s. 598. [2] "Rigveda," 1, 59, 2; 7, 5, 6; 10, 69, 6. Cf. Manu, 10, 45. That in the Rigveda the Dasyus are always enemies, and even evil spirits, is beyond a doubt, and cannot excite any wonder when we remember how the Indians confound the natural and supernatural; Muir, "Sanskrit Texts," 2^2, 358 ff. On the original meaning of the word Dasyu, and its signification in the Mahabharata, cf. Lassen, "Ind. Alterth." 1^2, 633. [3] Muir, _loc. cit._ 5, 110, 113. [4] Lassen, _loc. cit._ 1^2, 440. [5] Lassen, _loc. cit._ 1^2, 461. [6] According to Whitney ("Language," p. 327), the language of the Kolas and Santals is quite distinct from the Dravidian languages. Lassen's view on the relation of the Vindhya tribes to the Dravida and the Nishada is given, _loc. cit._ 1^2, 456. [7] The Ganges (Ganga) is mentioned only twice in the Rigveda, and then without any emphasis or epithet; "Rigveda," 10, 75, 5; 64, 9. This book is of later origin; Roth, "Zur Literatur und Geschichte des Veda," s. 127, 136, 137, 139. [8] This name, it is true, may also have arisen from the fact that the Indians turned to the east when praying. [9] The root _syand_ means "to flow." [10] Arrian, "Ind." 1, 3; "Anab." 4, 25. [11] 1 Kings ix. 26-28; x. 11, 12, 22. [12] Lassen, _loc. cit._ 1^2, 651 ff.; 2^2, 595 ff. [13] Arrian, "Ind." 1, 3. [14] Steph. _sub. voc._ [15] Herod. 3, 94, 105; 4, 44. [16] Herod. 3, 102 ff. [17] "Mahavança," ed. Turnour, p. 47. [18] Herod. 7, 66, 70. [19] Herod. 3, 101. [20] Herod. 3, 94; 4, 44. [21] Herod. 3, 96, 98 ff. [22] Ctes. "Ecl." 1. [23] "Ecl." 1, 8. [24] "Ecl." 6.