Chapter 22

Native name.—Bânâka.Locality.—Sea-coast of Western Africa 3° north latitude, half way between the Camaroons and Gaboon.Physical appearance.—More Kaffre than Negro; skin more copper-coloured than black; sclerotica clear.

Native name.—Bânâka.

Locality.—Sea-coast of Western Africa 3° north latitude, half way between the Camaroons and Gaboon.

Physical appearance.—More Kaffre than Negro; skin more copper-coloured than black; sclerotica clear.

Locality.—Eastward to, and more in the interior than the Batangas; from 3° north latitude to 3° south latitude, on the Head-waters of the Gaboon.

Locality.—Mouth of the Gaboon.

Then follow the nations of—1. Loango; 2. Congo; 3. Angola; and 4. Benguela; closely allied both in language and appearance, and nations whose place in the Kaffre division has long been recognised.

That there is, however, considerable difference in respect to the physical conformation of the different tribes, is certain; some writers, reducing the native of Portuguese Africa to the Negro, others to the proper Kaffrarian, or South Kaffre, type.

If the difference between these two extremes be rightly estimated by the present writer, the former should prevailalong the courses, the latter on the watersheds of the rivers. His information, however, is imperfect upon this point.

Area.—The extra-tropical portion of South Africa,minusthe parts south, Walvisch Bay on the west, and the water-system of the Orange River.—Encroaching.Chief divisions.—1. Amakosas, nearest the Cape. 2. Bechuanas, north of the head-waters of the Orange River. 3. Zulus, north of the Bechuanas, with an undetermined extent inland. Numerous sub-divisions.Physical conformation.—Cranium, more vaulted and less prognathic than the Negro; hair, tufted, and as such approaching that of the Hottentot; zygomatic development, outwards rather than downwards, so that the cheek-bones become projecting, and the forehead and chin tapering; lips, generally thick, and nasal profile less generally depressed than with the Negro; colour, black, dark brown, clear brown; stature, tall.Habits.—Pastoral rather than agricultural.Religion.—Paganism.Customs.—Circumcision and tattooing.

Area.—The extra-tropical portion of South Africa,minusthe parts south, Walvisch Bay on the west, and the water-system of the Orange River.—Encroaching.

Chief divisions.—1. Amakosas, nearest the Cape. 2. Bechuanas, north of the head-waters of the Orange River. 3. Zulus, north of the Bechuanas, with an undetermined extent inland. Numerous sub-divisions.

Physical conformation.—Cranium, more vaulted and less prognathic than the Negro; hair, tufted, and as such approaching that of the Hottentot; zygomatic development, outwards rather than downwards, so that the cheek-bones become projecting, and the forehead and chin tapering; lips, generally thick, and nasal profile less generally depressed than with the Negro; colour, black, dark brown, clear brown; stature, tall.

Habits.—Pastoral rather than agricultural.

Religion.—Paganism.

Customs.—Circumcision and tattooing.

The Dammaras.—Are the Dammaras Kaffre? This will be noticed in p.495.

The Kaffres of Lagoa Bay, darker and more Negro-like than the typical Kaffres of Kaffraria, form the transition between the southern Kaffres and the eastern divisions of the tribes of Inhambane, Sofala, and Botonga, and the water-system of the river Yambezi. They are Negro rather than Kaffrarian, their languages being but imperfectly known.

So are those of Mozambique and Zanzibar; chiefly represented by the Makuas, the Monjous, and the tribes speaking the Suaheli language. A vast accession to our philological data for these parts proves incontestably the Kaffre structure of the languages of the coast from the Cape of Good Hope to nearly 5° north latitude.

But the tribes of the unknown parts of Central Africa, south of the equator, are also, probably, either wholly, or almost wholly, Kaffre. It is this which has induced me to passsicco pedeover the numerous details of the Kaffres of the coast, so as to allow space for a short notice of the newer additions to our knowledge of the inland Kaffres, west and east.

a.West.—The Kazumbi, said to live at such a distance from the coast, as to be obliged to travel three or four moons, before they reach any of the possessions of the Portuguese and to speak a language which resembles, in many words (especially the numerals), the Congo. This is probably the Cazambe of the maps, nearly in the centre of Africa, in 13° south latitude.

The Koniunki.[175]—From some captured Negroes examined by the Rev. T. Arbousset, of the Paris Missionary Society, a few words have been collected of the Koniunki language. They are apparently of the Kaffre class.

The locality of the Koniunkis was also said to be so farin the interior, as for the gang to have been three or four months in reaching the Mozambique coast.

This indicates that they wereeastof the Kazumbi, whilst the affinity of the language with the Bechuana gives them a southward direction.

The Mazenas, mentioned along with the Koniunkis, as lying between them and the Makuas.[176]

Hence, the Congo, the Kazumbi, Koniunki, and Mazena areas, probably, carry us across the whole continent in (about) 13° south latitude; whilst the likelihood of the southern Koniunki and northern Bechuanas being conterminous, helps to fill up the void spaces north of the parts about Litakú.

b.East.—Parts about Mombaz, Formosa Bay, Lama, Patta, &c.

Locality.—River Pocomosi (Maro).Conterminouswith the southernmost section of the Gallas.

Locality.—River Pocomosi (Maro).

Conterminouswith the southernmost section of the Gallas.

Locality.—North and west of Mombaz.

The Mahometanism of the Wanikas, if it exist at all, is of the most imperfect kind. They practise circumcision, it is true; but this is a general African, quite as much as a particular Semitic, rite—"They bury their dead, placing the head to the east; and it is customary, after waiting ten days, to kill a bullock and make a feast, pouring the blood upon the grave." The Wanika man seen by Pickering, "bore the marks of a national designation; consisting of a single notch, filed between the two upper front teeth, with numerous small scars on the breast."

Synonym.—Merremengo.Locality.—Mixed with, and conterminous with the Wanika.

Synonym.—Merremengo.

Locality.—Mixed with, and conterminous with the Wanika.

Locality.—Five days from the coast; conterminous with the Wakamba.

Locality.—Westward of the Wataita.Language.—Different from the Chaga and M'Kuafi. Probably akin to the Wanika.

Locality.—Westward of the Wataita.

Language.—Different from the Chaga and M'Kuafi. Probably akin to the Wanika.

Locality.—Pungany River. Scattered among the Wanika.

Language.—As known from a vocabulary of Krapf's, closely akin to the Pocomo, Wakamba, Wanika, and M'Sigua.

This last sentence suggests the nature of our reasons for making the tribes just enumerated Kaffre. The dialects of five of them are known by specimens, collected by Krapf, and are very nearly Suaheli. The evidence of the Kaffre origin of the Tavaiti and Wataita is less conclusive.

The M'Kuafi.—Are the M'Kuafi Kaffre? This question will be noticed in p.501.

It has been suggested that the import of the peculiarities in the structure of the Kaffre languages may have been exaggerated; the effect of such an over-valuation being to isolate the class beyond its proper limit. The following facts are corrective to this view:—

1. The Woloff language is at least one other African tongue, which exhibits the phænomenon of aninitial change, a process allied to the euphonic concord.

2. The Celtic tongues of Europe do the same.

3. Apparent instances ofprefixedsyllables, occur in the Howssa, Yarribean, and probably in other African languages.

Now there are many good reasons for believing that although the effect of such and such-like processes is to give the languages in which they occur a very remarkableexternalappearance—an appearance which, if we classed tongues and nations on the same principles upon which we class minerals,i.e.irrespective of descent and affiliation, would throw them into solitary and independent groups—they by no means denote the necessity of any inordinately long period for the evolution. All that theydodenote is the greater intensity of what may be called the euphonic instinct, combined with a tendency to incorporate elements which, elsewhere, would be kept separate.

A doctrine laid down by Mr. Hales in his Philology to the United States Exploring Expedition, indicating a different classification from the present, deserves notice.

That inquirer considers that the line of affinity runs west and east, rather than north and south; so that the Kaffres of Inhambane, Zanzibar, and Mozambique are more closely allied to those of Loango and Angola than the Kosas, Bechuanas and Zulus of the Cape. Thepublishedevidence of the proposition is certainly insufficient.

FOOTNOTES:[174]These are not therealKaffre prefixes, being merely meant for the sake of illustration, they are arbitrary syllables.[175]Dr. Adamson's speech, at the Wesleyan Missionary Meeting, in 1846.—Journal of the American Oriental Society, vol. i. No. 4.[176]Journal of the American Oriental Society, Vol. i. No. 4.

[174]These are not therealKaffre prefixes, being merely meant for the sake of illustration, they are arbitrary syllables.

[175]Dr. Adamson's speech, at the Wesleyan Missionary Meeting, in 1846.—Journal of the American Oriental Society, vol. i. No. 4.

[176]Journal of the American Oriental Society, Vol. i. No. 4.

The Hottentot stock has a better claim to be considered as forming a second species of the genusHomothan any other section of mankind. It can be shown, however, that the language is no more different from those of the world in general than they are from each other.

Area.The southern extremity of Africa. Encroached upon bya.the Kaffres;b.the Dutch and English of the Cape.Divisions.1. The Hottentots. 2. The Saabs.Physical conformation.Stature, low; limbs, slight; colour, more brown or yellow than black (that of new-born children said to be nearly white); cheek-bones, prominent; nasal profile, depressed; hair, in tufts rather than equally distributed over the head.—Thus described by Barrow: "It does not cover the whole surface of the scalp, but grows in small tufts, at certain distances from each other, and when clipped short, has the appearance and feel of a hard shoe-brush, except that it is curled and twisted into small, round lumps, about the size of a marrow-fat pea. When suffered to grow, it hangs on the neck in hard, twisted tassels, like a fringe."[177]—Eyes, oblique; vision, acute; cranium, Mongoliform with wide orbits, brakhykephalic, nasal profile extremely flat, broad at the root; and the chin, long, forward, and thin.Pelvis, with amaximumdifference in structure according as it is male or female; that of the former being strong and dense, that of the latter, light, and delicate. In both cases aminimumof diploe between the bony plates; ossa ilii, vertical; sacrum, narrow; conjugate diameter, short; neck of the thigh-bone, short, and with an oblique direction.[178]—Vrolik.—Oftener wedge-shaped or oblong, than oval, round, or square.—Weber.Buttocks often steatomatous.[179]Physical condition of area.—Karroos,i.e.elevated terraces and table-lands, with the soil dry, hard, clayey, fissured, rarely moistened with rain, and chiefly productive of thesucculentclasses of the vegetable kingdom.Language.—Containingtwoinarticulate elements, viz.h(like other tongues), and a peculiar and characteristicclick.Intermixture.—Dutch, the Griquas of the Orange River being a mixed stock.Habits.—Pastoral and hunter state; the latter exhibiting the lower forms of the type (i.e.the Saabs, or Bushmen, once disconnected from the others, and considered as forming a separate and more degraded class).

Area.The southern extremity of Africa. Encroached upon bya.the Kaffres;b.the Dutch and English of the Cape.

Divisions.1. The Hottentots. 2. The Saabs.

Physical conformation.Stature, low; limbs, slight; colour, more brown or yellow than black (that of new-born children said to be nearly white); cheek-bones, prominent; nasal profile, depressed; hair, in tufts rather than equally distributed over the head.—Thus described by Barrow: "It does not cover the whole surface of the scalp, but grows in small tufts, at certain distances from each other, and when clipped short, has the appearance and feel of a hard shoe-brush, except that it is curled and twisted into small, round lumps, about the size of a marrow-fat pea. When suffered to grow, it hangs on the neck in hard, twisted tassels, like a fringe."[177]—Eyes, oblique; vision, acute; cranium, Mongoliform with wide orbits, brakhykephalic, nasal profile extremely flat, broad at the root; and the chin, long, forward, and thin.

Pelvis, with amaximumdifference in structure according as it is male or female; that of the former being strong and dense, that of the latter, light, and delicate. In both cases aminimumof diploe between the bony plates; ossa ilii, vertical; sacrum, narrow; conjugate diameter, short; neck of the thigh-bone, short, and with an oblique direction.[178]—Vrolik.—Oftener wedge-shaped or oblong, than oval, round, or square.—Weber.

Buttocks often steatomatous.[179]

Physical condition of area.—Karroos,i.e.elevated terraces and table-lands, with the soil dry, hard, clayey, fissured, rarely moistened with rain, and chiefly productive of thesucculentclasses of the vegetable kingdom.

Language.—Containingtwoinarticulate elements, viz.h(like other tongues), and a peculiar and characteristicclick.

Intermixture.—Dutch, the Griquas of the Orange River being a mixed stock.

Habits.—Pastoral and hunter state; the latter exhibiting the lower forms of the type (i.e.the Saabs, or Bushmen, once disconnected from the others, and considered as forming a separate and more degraded class).

Theextinctsections of the Hottentot division are:—

Extant.—1. Gonaquas, south-east, on the Great Fish River. Probably replaced by Amakosah Kaffres.

2. Koraquas(Kora, Korana), north-east frontier, on the upper part of the Orange River.—In the more favourable localities the Koraquas are the tallest and best-looking men of the Hottentot stock. On the other hand, the Koras of the Hartebeest River, who formerly possessed, but have since lost their cattle, "exhibit the obvious process by which the Bushmen race have been originally driven back from the pastoral state, to that of the huntsman androbber."—Thompson's Travels in Southern Africa.—Prichard, vol. ii. p. 274.

3. Namaquas, separated from the Koranas by the Saabs. Occupants of the lower part of the Orange River,i. e.Little Namaqualand to the south, and Great Namaqualand to the north of its mouth.

Locality.—The country between the Roggeveld and the middle portion of the Orange River; preeminently aKarroo.Habits.—Hunters.Language.—Wholly or nearly unintelligible to the other Hottentots.Area.—Encroached upon the Koranas, who are their deadly enemies, and continually at war with them.

Locality.—The country between the Roggeveld and the middle portion of the Orange River; preeminently aKarroo.

Habits.—Hunters.

Language.—Wholly or nearly unintelligible to the other Hottentots.

Area.—Encroached upon the Koranas, who are their deadly enemies, and continually at war with them.

Are the Dammaras Kaffre or Hottentot? This has already been asked.

On the authority of Mr. Barrow, Prichard corrects Vater and Maltebrun for making the Dammaras Hottentot instead of Kaffre. The term, however, is a geographical rather than an ethnological one, comprising the tribes inhabiting those parts to the north and south of Waalvisch Bay, which are marked in the maps assterile country, and lying between Benguela (where the languages belong to the Congo class of the Kaffre languages), and Namaqualand, where the inhabitants are Hottentots.

Now, geographically speaking, the Dammaras fall into two divisions:a,[180]the Dammaras of the Plains, or cattle Dammaras, andb, the Hill Dammaras. These latter inhabit the parts to the north and north-east of Namaqualand, and are Namaqua Hottentots. The former only belong to the Kaffre division, and extend as far north as 17° south latitude.

Forced downwards by the stronger tribes of the Kaffres,with their periphery overlaid, the Hottentots probably represent a population whose original area was extended much more towards the north—possibly as far as the central range of mountains. Nay, more—fragments of the stock may still, in central Africa, interrupt the Kaffre area, and form future discoveries in ethnology.

This possible northward extension of the Hottentot area has a bearing upon the questions connected with the population of Madagascar.

Overlaying of the periphery of an ethnological area.—Let two divisions of a certain class pass into each other by imperceptible degrees, and let one of thecentralportions of either class spread itself at the expense of the parts belonging to its circumference.

The effect which follows is, that those portions of this area, which represent the phænomena of transition, are overlaid, or overlapped; and that instead of two populations coming into contact by imperceptible degrees, they meet as separate classes, with as broad a line of demarcation between their respective representatives at the circumferences (peripheries) of their respective areas, as there was between their central or typical portions.

North-western America illustrates this. The more southern Algonkins have overlaid both the Algonkins of their own section, which approached the Eskimo, and the Eskimo of the opposite section, which approached the Algonkin. Hence the two populations meet as widely-separated, and broadly distinguished varieties of mankind.

FOOTNOTES:[177]Prichard, vol. ii. p. 278.[178]Ibid. p.332.[179]Aliquando, apud hanc nationem, nympharum protuberantia enormis—minime vero apud onmes—occurrit.[180]Journal of the American Oriental Society, vol. i. No. 4.

[177]Prichard, vol. ii. p. 278.

[178]Ibid. p.332.

[179]Aliquando, apud hanc nationem, nympharum protuberantia enormis—minime vero apud onmes—occurrit.

[180]Journal of the American Oriental Society, vol. i. No. 4.

This is a far less simple group than the last, and one which may, probably, require the value of some of its divisions to be raised. Besides which, it probably comprizes, if classed according to the strict rules of ethnology, theeastern Negroesof our first division. Again, it passes into the Kaffre, Coptic, and Semitic groups by imperceptible gradations. At the same time, as far as it goes, it is ethnological,i.e.it embraces populations actually affiliated to each other rather than populations exhibiting the common effects of common social or climatological conditions.

Physical conformation.—Modified Negro, in certain cases approaching the Arab conformation.Area.—The water system of the Upper and Middle Nile.Chief divisions.—1. Gallas. 2. Agows. 3. Nubians. 4. Bisharis(?).

Physical conformation.—Modified Negro, in certain cases approaching the Arab conformation.

Area.—The water system of the Upper and Middle Nile.

Chief divisions.—1. Gallas. 2. Agows. 3. Nubians. 4. Bisharis(?).

As it is the southern portion of the Nilotic area, which is conterminous with the northern Kaffre, the southern populations will be noticed first.

Area.—Preeminently encroaching. From 4° to (there or thereabouts) 16° north latitude. Irregular.Chief divisions.—1. Galla Proper, or Ilmorma—south and east of Abyssinia.2. Somauli—The parts between the Sea of Bab-el-Mandeb, the Indian Ocean, and (there or thereabouts) 45° east latitude.3. The Danakil, or Afer—The coast of the Red Sea from Adel to Suakin.Religion.—Paganism, Mahometanism. According to Dr. Beke, fragmentary Christianity among the Gallas.Habits.—Chiefly pastoral. Partially mercantile.Physical appearance.—Colour varying from a deep black to a brownish-yellow. Stature, tall; bodies, spare, wiry, and muscular; frontal profile vaulted; nose, often straight or even arched; lips, moderate; hair, often hanging over the neck in long twisted plaits.

Area.—Preeminently encroaching. From 4° to (there or thereabouts) 16° north latitude. Irregular.

Chief divisions.—1. Galla Proper, or Ilmorma—south and east of Abyssinia.

2. Somauli—The parts between the Sea of Bab-el-Mandeb, the Indian Ocean, and (there or thereabouts) 45° east latitude.

3. The Danakil, or Afer—The coast of the Red Sea from Adel to Suakin.

Religion.—Paganism, Mahometanism. According to Dr. Beke, fragmentary Christianity among the Gallas.

Habits.—Chiefly pastoral. Partially mercantile.

Physical appearance.—Colour varying from a deep black to a brownish-yellow. Stature, tall; bodies, spare, wiry, and muscular; frontal profile vaulted; nose, often straight or even arched; lips, moderate; hair, often hanging over the neck in long twisted plaits.

It is the wilder tribes of the Ilmorma Gallas that have broken up the kingdom, and disturbed the ethnology of Abyssinia, both in respect to its Semitic populations, and the earlier and more aboriginal—

Divisions and localities.—1. Agows of Damot.2. Agows of Lasta; Troglodyte Pagans.3. Falasha—a.Lowlanders of Dembea.b.Highlanders of Samien.c.Christianized Falashas (Kimmont) of the hill country, north-east of Gondar.—Bruce from Prichard, vol. ii. p. 135.

Divisions and localities.—1. Agows of Damot.

2. Agows of Lasta; Troglodyte Pagans.

3. Falasha—a.Lowlanders of Dembea.b.Highlanders of Samien.c.Christianized Falashas (Kimmont) of the hill country, north-east of Gondar.—Bruce from Prichard, vol. ii. p. 135.

The fact that both the Galla and Agow languages pass through the Amharic into the more typical Semitic tongues, and that the former (over and above many undeniable points of affinity with the Coptic) is quite assub-Semitic as the Berber, is one of the many phænomena which break down the broad line of demarcation that is so often drawn between the Semitic and the African nations.

Again, the extent to which the Falashas exhibit a variety of customs common to themselves and the Jews has long been recognized. It by no means, however, follows that they are a result of Jewish influence. The criticism that applied to the Ghás applies here. Many of the so-called Jewish peculiarities are African as well—irrespective of intercourse, and independent of imitation.

Locality.—Valley of the Nile, Nubia, and Dongola.Dialects.—a.North Nubian, or Kensi.b.Middle Nubian, or Nub.c.Dongolawi of Dongola.Synonym.—Barabbra, or Berber.Antiquities.—Monuments ofa.an Ægyptian, in the Lower,b.an Æthiopian type in the Upper Nubia.Political relations.—Subject to Ægypt.Intermixture.—Arab. Negro from slaves.Religion.—Paganism and Mahometanism.Habits.—Agricultural and trading.Physical appearance.—Eyes, deep set and sparkling; nose, pointed; nostrils, large; mouth, wide; lips, moderate; hair and beard, thin; body, slender;colour, shining jet black.—Denon.[181]Hair, long, slightly crisp, not woolly.Colour, intermediate between the ebon-black of Sennaar Negroes, and the brown of Ægyptians.[181]—Costaz.Extract from Rüppell[181]as to the Dongolawi.—"An attentive inquiry will enable us to distinguish amongst the old national physiognomies, which their forefathers have marked upon colossal statues, and the bas-reliefs of temples and sepulchres, a long oval countenance, beautifully-curved nose, somewhat rounded towards the top, proportionately thick lips, but not protruding excessively, a retreating chin, scanty beard, lively eyes, strongly frizzled but never woolly hair, and remarkably beautiful figure, generally of middle size, and a bronze colour, as the characteristics of the genuine Dongolawi."Descent.—From the ancient Nobatæ.

Locality.—Valley of the Nile, Nubia, and Dongola.

Dialects.—a.North Nubian, or Kensi.b.Middle Nubian, or Nub.c.Dongolawi of Dongola.

Synonym.—Barabbra, or Berber.

Antiquities.—Monuments ofa.an Ægyptian, in the Lower,b.an Æthiopian type in the Upper Nubia.

Political relations.—Subject to Ægypt.

Intermixture.—Arab. Negro from slaves.

Religion.—Paganism and Mahometanism.

Habits.—Agricultural and trading.

Physical appearance.—Eyes, deep set and sparkling; nose, pointed; nostrils, large; mouth, wide; lips, moderate; hair and beard, thin; body, slender;colour, shining jet black.—Denon.[181]

Hair, long, slightly crisp, not woolly.Colour, intermediate between the ebon-black of Sennaar Negroes, and the brown of Ægyptians.[181]—Costaz.

Extract from Rüppell[181]as to the Dongolawi.—"An attentive inquiry will enable us to distinguish amongst the old national physiognomies, which their forefathers have marked upon colossal statues, and the bas-reliefs of temples and sepulchres, a long oval countenance, beautifully-curved nose, somewhat rounded towards the top, proportionately thick lips, but not protruding excessively, a retreating chin, scanty beard, lively eyes, strongly frizzled but never woolly hair, and remarkably beautiful figure, generally of middle size, and a bronze colour, as the characteristics of the genuine Dongolawi."

Descent.—From the ancient Nobatæ.

The relation between the Nubian of Nubia, and the Koldagi language of Kordofan, was first indicated by Rüppell, and has been generally admitted.

On the other hand, the relations of the Koldagi not only to the Furians of Darfúr, but to the more truly Negro Shilluks, &c., are equally manifest.

From the Ægyptian, therefore, to the Eastern Negro, the transition is through the Nubian.

Area.—The high country, and table-land between the Nile and the Red Sea.Divisions.—1. Northern Bishari or Ababde, from the latitude of Kosseir, north; to Deir, south.2. Southern Bishari (=the Hadendoa, Hammadab, and other tribes) from the Danakil, Æthiopic and portions of the Shankala area to the Ababdes.Language.—With definite affinities with both the Nubian and Coptic.Descent.—Probably from the ancient Blemmyes.Physical appearance.—Nearly that of Nubians.Habits.—Pastoral and wandering.

Area.—The high country, and table-land between the Nile and the Red Sea.

Divisions.—1. Northern Bishari or Ababde, from the latitude of Kosseir, north; to Deir, south.

2. Southern Bishari (=the Hadendoa, Hammadab, and other tribes) from the Danakil, Æthiopic and portions of the Shankala area to the Ababdes.

Language.—With definite affinities with both the Nubian and Coptic.

Descent.—Probably from the ancient Blemmyes.

Physical appearance.—Nearly that of Nubians.

Habits.—Pastoral and wandering.

What are the M'Kuafi? This was asked in p.493. The M'Kuafi west of Mombaz, are conterminous with the Southern Gallas, and with the Kaffre Wanika, &c.

From these last, however, the only known vocabulary of their language disconnects them.

Hence they are at present unplaced; since they may be Kaffre, Gallas, Gongas, or, finally, the representatives of a separate class altogether. The only description is the following one of Pickering's:—

"The information respecting them was derived from young persons seen at Zanzibar, where, according to the Arabs, slaves of this class were formerly cheap, and much esteemed, but now bring high prices.

"A M'Kuafi girl stated, that she had been captured by the Mussai; who killed her father and mother, and who sold her to the Chaga. She was twenty-five days in reaching the coast. Formerly, her nation was powerful above others, so that one woman with a stick would stop a thousand persons from passing through the country unless a present was first made; but her people are broken, and at present they would not fight the M'Sigua.

"Her people do not cultivate the ground, and they eat only milk and meat. Children, when hungry, help themselves by direct application to the cow. Cattle are killed by piercing the spine; numbers of them every day, until each family is supplied. The M'Kuafi have not fixed meal times, but they eat whenever they feel inclined, inviting their neighbours of the same village to partake with them. Each family has its own cattle, which all go to pasture together, and outside the town is a place to receive them at night. The men marry as many women as they please; and each wife has a separate house. These habitations are tents of bullock-skin, supported by poles set around. The men decorate themselves with large beads, and their dress is made of skin, and consists of a painted cincture full of openings and hanging strips,and of a long cloak worn over one shoulder. Cloth, however, now is brought by traders. The women, by way of ornament, coil brass wire about the arm as far as the elbow. The beads and brass wire are procured at Pemba, by selling ivory, obtained from elephants, some of which are found dead, while others are purposely killed.

"The M'Kuafi do not bury, but they put their dead in the bush, for the wild beasts to eat. The friends afterwards cry from ten to twenty days, and then kill three bullocks and make a feast. The M'Kuafi have neither prayers nor religion, but they eat and sleep. The name of their deity is Angayai; and on some big days they take feathers and dance. They have cows, goats, donkeys, sheep, and dogs; but neither cats, nor horses. They take off the fleece of the sheep, and spin yarn, with which they sew the skins together. They have gourd shells for holding water, which are bought of the Chaga. They go out to fight with the Mussai, frequently, sometimes every day; and they take cattle; they fight, also, with the Wampugo, and the Wataita, but not with the Chaga. The country of the M'Kuafi, consists of mountains and plains, and produces some trees which supply tent-poles, but there are no fruits. Persons while sleeping, are sometimes eaten by leopards.

"On another occasion, the same girl brought two of her companions, and they sang together some simple and plaintive airs, such as are used 'in getting children to sleep.' Their dancing was not graceful, but was somewhat violent and not altogether decent. Their language was soft, and I heard terminal vowels only, the two syllables 'goonga,' frequently recurring. I read to them some translations in the Galla; but this proved to be a different language, and they did not recognise a word.On being questioned on the subject, the first girl said, 'she did not wish to return home, for her relations were all dead;' and some tears followed the allusion to the subject. Beads being offered, she preferred the red to the blue, according to the general taste in this part of Africa. Of the other girls, one came from Kaputa, and the third from Aseta.

"A fourth girl, whom I interrogated, was too young to give much information, and she, besides, had not yet learned the Soahili language. It appeared that she 'had been stolen by some Chaga;' that she came from the vicinity of the Kilmungaro mountain (which is visible from the sea), and that she understood the language of the other girls when they were brought together.

"A highly intelligent lad, who had the lobe of one ear perforated, stated, that the size of this opening, among the M'Kuafi, 'indicates the rank of the individual, the king having one of very remarkable dimensions.' With regard to his own history he stated, that, 'on the occasion of an attack by some foreign tribe,' he, with other children, hid themselves; but the circumstance had been observed at some distance by some Wampugo, who came to the spot and carried them away. The towns of the M'Kuafi are not fixed; but when the grass fails, a new one is made in another place. The M'Kuafi ride donkeys; they eat beef and sheep, and drink water and milk. It is customary, when a man kills a bullock, to send a piece to the king, to give another on account of circumcision, and then to call his friends to eat the remainder. There are camelopards in the country; and poor people, who have no bullocks, kill them for food, taking them in pitfalls, or sometimes with poison.

"The mode of circumcising differs from that prevailingamong the Moslim. The government likewise differs; and if one man kills another, the price of blood is from ten to twenty bullocks.

"The M'Kuafi put on a cap of ostrich feathers when they go out to fight. On a former occasion they beat the M'Sigua, taking all the cattle, which they sold at Zanzibar. They fight with the Wakamba towards sunrise; and they are so warlike that they would fight even with their nearest relations. They sometimes go to the Monomoisy country to fight and take property; but not into the country of the Chaga, with whom they do not fight, unless meeting by accident. They fight, however, with the Lupalaconga, who live on a mountain, and speak the same language with the Chaga; and who, according to his description, must be a Negro tribe.

"His people once went towards sunrise to fight with the Sikir-washi, who are the nation called Galla at Zanzibar. They saw a large river which 'came dry,' and men carrying large spears, who spoke a different language from their own. They took all the cattle and donkeys, and the fat-tailed sheep; but they disdained taking the horses, an animal they had never before seen. The king of the Sikir-washi wears a large beard, while the rest of the people shave: using for the purpose a sort of small iron chisel; and these practices prevail equally with the M'Kuafi.

"When the lad was asked about the Mussai, he rejoined with some emotion,—'They who break my country: he knew them well; they dwell farther inland than the M'Kuafi.'

"He did not know how old he was, and asked, 'if any one could tell him.' His people have no prayers: he could not speak lies. He did not wish to return to his native-country—he had got no bullocks; he was now a slave:no matter, he should soon die. He did not know where he should go to after death. He had heard that God had made him, that was all."

Locality.—West of the M'Kuafi; to which tribes they are allied. Probably M'Kuafi.

Locality.—South-west of the Wanika, on the upper part of the Pungany River.Habits.—Circumcision. Probably M'Kuafi.

Locality.—South-west of the Wanika, on the upper part of the Pungany River.

Habits.—Circumcision. Probably M'Kuafi.

Locality.—On the Ruvu, a feeder of the Pungany, within half a day's journey of the M'Kuafi country. Probably M'Kuafi.

Locality.—Two days west of Quiloa. Probably M'Kuafi,

Locality.—Uncertain. Most likely to the west of the M'Kindo. Probably M'Kuafi.

The M'Hiao markings "vary in different individuals, but often consist of raised sears or welts crossing each other, like stars. Many of the females have the upper lip perforated."—Pickering.

FOOTNOTES:[181]Prichard, vol. ii. p. 174.

[181]Prichard, vol. ii. p. 174.

The Amazirgh, a native name of one of the Cabyle tribes of Algiers, is here used in a general sense, instead of the more usual termBerber; a term which is nowhere recognized by any Amazirgh population, and which, under a modified form,isrecognized by portions of thenon-Amazirgh Nubians.

Physical conformation.—Sometimes a modification of the Negro, sometimes of the Arab type.Languages.—With a vocabulary generally considered to be peculiar, but with a grammatical structure considered to be (if not absolutely Semitic)sub-Semitic.Distribution.—Speaking roughly, the whole north-western quarter of Africaplusa narrow strip along the Mediterranean from about 15° east latitude to the confines of Ægypt.Descent.—From the ancient Gætulians, Numidians, Mauritanians, and Cyrenæans.Area.—Encroached upon along the coast of the Mediterranean—1.In ancient times by—a.Phœnicians.b.Greeks.c.Romans.2.In modern times by—Mahometan Arabs.Physical conditions.—Occupants of—a.The mountain range of Atlas.b.The Sahara.c.The Canary Isles.Chief Divisions.—1. Siwans, of the Oasis of Siwah, the ancient Ammonium. 2. Cabyles, of the range of Atlas. 3. Tuaricks, of the Sahara. 4. Guauches, of the Canary Islands. These last either extinct or incorporated.Dialects as known from specimens.—1. Of Siwah. 2. Augila. 3. Fezzan. 4. Ghadamis. 5. Algeria (numerous). 6. Morocco. 7. The Sahara. 8. The Canaries.Alphabets.—1. Arabic. 2. Tuarick.Antiquities.—The Bilingual inscription, Carthaginian and Berber(?) of Dugga, known as the Inscriptio Tuggensis.

Physical conformation.—Sometimes a modification of the Negro, sometimes of the Arab type.

Languages.—With a vocabulary generally considered to be peculiar, but with a grammatical structure considered to be (if not absolutely Semitic)sub-Semitic.

Distribution.—Speaking roughly, the whole north-western quarter of Africaplusa narrow strip along the Mediterranean from about 15° east latitude to the confines of Ægypt.

Descent.—From the ancient Gætulians, Numidians, Mauritanians, and Cyrenæans.

Area.—Encroached upon along the coast of the Mediterranean—

1.In ancient times by—a.Phœnicians.b.Greeks.c.Romans.

2.In modern times by—Mahometan Arabs.

Physical conditions.—Occupants of—a.The mountain range of Atlas.b.The Sahara.c.The Canary Isles.

Chief Divisions.—1. Siwans, of the Oasis of Siwah, the ancient Ammonium. 2. Cabyles, of the range of Atlas. 3. Tuaricks, of the Sahara. 4. Guauches, of the Canary Islands. These last either extinct or incorporated.

Dialects as known from specimens.—1. Of Siwah. 2. Augila. 3. Fezzan. 4. Ghadamis. 5. Algeria (numerous). 6. Morocco. 7. The Sahara. 8. The Canaries.

Alphabets.—1. Arabic. 2. Tuarick.

Antiquities.—The Bilingual inscription, Carthaginian and Berber(?) of Dugga, known as the Inscriptio Tuggensis.

The aboriginal character of the Amazirgh tribes, taken with the likelihood of their representing the tributaries of Carthage, and the subjects of Masinissa, Syphax, Juba,Jugurtha, and Bocchus, has commanded the attention of scholars, and has led to important results.

That its grammatical structure is Semitic (or at leastsub-Semitic) has been shown by Mr. F. Newman, who has also shown that the Haussa has Amazirgh elements. The fact, however, of its vocabulary having fewer Semitic forms than its grammar has complicated the philology. Nevertheless itdoescontain numerous Semitic words; whilst its isolation from the other tongues of Africa has been most gratuitous. So far from such being the case, it supplies a long list of words with miscellaneous affinities.[182]

With the Guanches of the Canaries we find the Ægyptian habit of desiccating the bodies of the dead into mummies.

With the Tuaricks of Wadreag, Mr. Hodgson found hair so crisp and skin so black, as to look like Negroes. There was, however, no suspicion of Negro intermixture.

On the other band, so light-complexioned are the Amazirghs of the ancient Mons Aurasius, that the hypothesis of an intermixture of Vandalic blood from the subjects of Genseric has been entertained.

FOOTNOTES:[182]Some of these have been collected by the present writer. See Classical Museum, vol. i.

[182]Some of these have been collected by the present writer. See Classical Museum, vol. i.

By Ægyptian Atlantidæ are meant theOldÆgyptians; the subjects of the Pharaohs and the Ptolemies; and the modern Copts so far as they are (what is rarely the case) of unmixed blood; the present dominant population of Ægypt being Arab.

Area.—The valley and delta of the Nile, from Essouan to the Mediterranean.Physical conformation.—A.Of the Old Ægyptians preserved as mummies.—Hair, fine, and either waved or curly; skull, with an upright frontal, and a moderately depressed nasal profile; maxillary profile, moderately prognathic; teeth, much worn; colour, undetermined. According to the testimony of ancient writers and paintings, darker than that of the Greek, lighter than that of the Nubian. Perhaps brown, with tinges of yellow and red.B.Of the Modern Copts.—Hair, black and crisp, or curled; cheek-bones, projecting; lips, thick; nose, somewhat depressed; nostrils, wide; complexion, varied, from a yellowish to a dark brown; eyes, oblique; frame, tall and fleshy; physiognomy, heavy and inexpressive.Religion of the Modern Copts.—Christianity.Pantheon of the Ancient Ægyptians.—Osiris, Isis, Anubis, Horus, Typhon, Phtha, Neith, &c.Language.—Coptic in three dialects. 1. The Memphitic, 2. Sahitic. 3. Bashmuric.Alphabets.—1. Hieroglyphic, of unknown, 2. Coptic, of Greek origin.

Area.—The valley and delta of the Nile, from Essouan to the Mediterranean.

Physical conformation.—A.Of the Old Ægyptians preserved as mummies.—Hair, fine, and either waved or curly; skull, with an upright frontal, and a moderately depressed nasal profile; maxillary profile, moderately prognathic; teeth, much worn; colour, undetermined. According to the testimony of ancient writers and paintings, darker than that of the Greek, lighter than that of the Nubian. Perhaps brown, with tinges of yellow and red.

B.Of the Modern Copts.—Hair, black and crisp, or curled; cheek-bones, projecting; lips, thick; nose, somewhat depressed; nostrils, wide; complexion, varied, from a yellowish to a dark brown; eyes, oblique; frame, tall and fleshy; physiognomy, heavy and inexpressive.

Religion of the Modern Copts.—Christianity.

Pantheon of the Ancient Ægyptians.—Osiris, Isis, Anubis, Horus, Typhon, Phtha, Neith, &c.

Language.—Coptic in three dialects. 1. The Memphitic, 2. Sahitic. 3. Bashmuric.

Alphabets.—1. Hieroglyphic, of unknown, 2. Coptic, of Greek origin.

The researches of Benfey and others, have shown the extent to which the Ægyptian language, those of Morton (in the Crania Ægyptiaca) the extent to which the Ægyptian osteology is Semitic; indeed this side of the question has gained quite as much admission as the evidence justifies.

The determination of what may be called the other aspect of the Ægyptian language has been attempted with less success.

Klaproth compared it with the Caucasian languages: the evidence of Herodotus as to the Ægyptian origin of the Colchians indicating this relation.

The Chevalier Bunsen has connected it with the Indo-European; the early development of Ægyptian civilization dicating this.

The real affinities are those which its geographical situation indicates,viz.with the Berber, Nubian, and Galla tongues, and through them with the African languages altogether,[183]Negro and non-Negro.

FOOTNOTES:[183]A short list of the words common to the Coptic and the African tongues at large, may be found in the author's Report on Ethnographical Philology.—Transactions of the British Association for the Advancement of Science, 1847, p. 223.

[183]A short list of the words common to the Coptic and the African tongues at large, may be found in the author's Report on Ethnographical Philology.—Transactions of the British Association for the Advancement of Science, 1847, p. 223.

No error is greater than to imagine that connection with the Semitic is synonymous with separation from the African stock, a remark which leads us from the Copts to—

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