Distribution.—The Sub-Himalayan range between Cashmir west, and the River Teesta on the borders of Sikkim, east.
Area.—Kumaon, Gurwhal, Sirmor, part of Bisahur, Kulu, Chambá, Mandi, Kangrah, Sukhet, Gulihur, Lahoul.
Physical appearance.—Hindu, modified by either Seriform intermixture or influences of climate and altitude, or both.
Language.—Indo-Gangetic(?). In many cases a near approach to the Hindi; in others, probably, to the Punjabi and the Cashmirian.
Religion.—Chiefly Brahminic.
Divisions.—1. Central Purbutti, or Khasiyas, in Gurwhal and Kumaon. 2. Eastern Purbutti, from Nepaul to the Bodo frontier; few and equivocal. 3. Western Purbutti, in the parts between the Sutlege and Cashmir.
The character of these populations is, as stated above, derived from either the influences of a mountain climate, or from intermixture with Seriform Tibetans, or both.
Admitting the latter as an important element, it then remains to be considered which of the two stocks is the original one. Were the sub-Himalayan terraces originally Seriform and afterwards peopled by Indians, or was the population originally Pulinda, with which was subsequently intermixed an Indo-Gangetic element. This is the uncertainty which is denoted by the note of interrogation(?).
The question which it involves is by no means answered by saying that the advent of the Brahminical Hindus of Gurwhal, Sirmor, and Kumaon, as conquerors and colonists, is a matter of history. Even, then, the nature of the primitive race remains uncertain, i. e. it is an open question whether they were southern branches of the Seriform stock, or northern Pulindas; to say nothing about the likelihood of their being intermediate to the two, or different for different parts of the frontier.
That they were Seriform is the likelier doctrine of the two. Still when we see, on the eastern side of the peninsula, how nearly the northern Pulindas of Rajmahal approach the southern Seriform Garos, the difficulties of the question become apparent.