The best way to begin this paper is by expressing my gratitude to the people who helped me to complete it. Especially I would like to thank the people of the community that forms the main subject of this research. It would be too much to name all the Anglo-Indians who helped me, each in their own way, to get a better insight in the community and the lives of its members. However, a few of them deserve to be named. K.I. Sweeney for his tea and hospitality, D.C. Cameron for a nice and comfortable stay in McCluskieganj, G.A. Wilson B'Rose, D.M. Alney, Sister Marissa and of course all the people at the All India Anglo-Indian Association office in Calcutta who received me with great generosity; B.M. Sweeney, G. Gomez, J. O'Brien and also N.A. O'Brien.

I am also grateful for having stayed in the International Scholars House of the Ramakrishna Mission Institute of Culture. Especially Rita Agarwal and Kaya Brandt were of great support during my stay in the impressive city of Calcutta. The correspondence with Kinie Lont in The Netherlands was also highly appreciated, like her editorial help during the final days. Professor B.B. Chaudhuri of the Department of History, University of Calcutta was also very helpful, like the people at the National Library in Calcutta and the staff of other libraries.

Without the financial support of the WSO (foundation for scientific research in developing countries) and the Department of History and Arts, Erasmus University Rotterdam it would have been hard to visit Calcutta. I would like to thank them for having enabled me to make the trip. In this respect my parents also deserve words of appreciation. They supported me in many ways during the years. I would also like to thank Professor Dr. H.W. van Schendel of the Department of History and Arts for his support, and especially drs. Kathinka Sinha-Kerkhoff who guided me from the early beginning upto the completion of the paper that is lying in front of you.