THE PEOPLE OF INDIA 227

approximation. Native Christians often call themselves
Eurasian, and Eurasians call themselves European ; nor
would it be possible to detect the mistake. There are
probably many more Eurasians than appear in the census.
One-third of the Eurasians belong to Madras. Bengal
has only 15,000 and Bombay about gooo, many of whom
are Goanese or of Portuguese descent. The North-West
Provinces and Madras are the localities most favoured by
Eurasians. In both provinces there are large communities
or settlements (as at Dehra Dun in the north-west and
Bangalore in the south) of an almost exclusively Eurasian
class. Poverty and improvidence are unfortunately common
 amongst them. This is largely due to their possessing
native proclivities in the matter of early marriage. Men
marry from the age of sixteen, and girls from the age of
thirteen, “and, like the patriarchs of old, they all beget
sons and daughters, the average number of births being six
per family, nearly half of whom die in early life.” Very
few Eurasians take to agriculture. The vast majority are
clerks, and it is in this capacity that they develop their
best capabilities.
In colour they range from black, through brown and
yellow to pure white, but there are certain slight physical
peculiarities which betray the admixture of native blood
even in the third or fourth generation from its introduction.
 The average height of the Eurasian is 5 feet 6
inches; average weight less than 8 stone, and average
chest measurement 31 inches. Nevertheless many of
them are of exceptionally active habits, and some of the
best rifle shots in India are to be found in their ranks.
In physique they are inferior even to the Madras sepoy,
but the Eurasian is nevertheless by no means a negligible
quantity in estimating the strength of our national defence.
He is absolutely loyal, amenable to discipline, fond of
sport, and capable of endurance; so that, as a member of
our Indian volunteer force, he fills a very important place
in the Indian defensive line ; and even in his own special
civil capacity he often attains to positions of trust, dignity,
and honor.