but they agree in their dialects, which, according to Mr. Hale, form a subdivision of the same general language.

A fortnight previous to our arrival, some families of the Fingo tribe were encamped in the vicinity of Cape Town; but on visiting the spot designated, I found that they had departed. The owner of a neighbouring plantation stated that " a large body of Fingoes once remained there for several weeks, and formed a regular town or 'kraal.' Their hair was exactly like that of the Negro; but the complexion varied, in some individuals being nearly as light as that of the Hottentot, and in others quite black. The men marry as many wives as possible, as by this means they secure at all times a support.'

WESTERN AFRICA.

I have seen aboriginal Negroes of Western Africa only at Rio Janeiro, where I enjoyed the advantage of being present during many of Mr. Hale's examinations, and of thus learning the precise place of origin of the different individuals. They mostly belonged to the countries south of the Equator, to tribes speaking dialects "of the Congo-Makuan subdivision of the general language, such as the BENGUELA, KASANGI, and CONGO; the KAMBINDA, from the Congo River; and the MUNDJOLA, from the country back of Loango."

The Negroes from the coast north of the Equator, or from GUINEA, had been brought principally from Mina, a port in the Ashantee country. They, as a class, and particularly individuals from the far interior, were much dreaded by the planters. I saw one man who spoke a little Arabic; and "in the instance of a former insurrection, the slaves were said to have corresponded in this language." For a more particular account of the various Negro tribes furnishing the slaves brought to Rio Janeiro, I must refer to the Narrative.

I would remark, however, in reference to the condition of Western Africa, that the descriptions I have read, exhibit, on the part of the natives, no deficiency in shrewdness and natural good sense, accompanied, however, by a grossness of manners not found in those parts of the world which I have visited.

CENTRAL AFRICA.

Natives of Central Africa were chiefly seen in Egypt, where, through the assistance of Dr. Gasparino, I was enabled to learn the history of a number of individuals selected from the Negro regiment. On inquiring for "Shilluk," several were at once pointed out; but it appeared, that the term as here used had reference to height of stature, rather than to the river tribe bearing the name. The persons designated called themselves JANGA; and one very tall man came from the mountains, and spoke the Denkawi language." Three other Janga, one of whom was short, were from the plains.

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Three individuals called themselves NUBAWI, the name of the class of Negroes who have been already mentioned as well known at Mocha and in Southern Arabia.

One Negro from KORDOFAN termed himself an Arab, and said that his language was the Arabic; and the same account was given by three other natives of that country, although they were all manifestly of unmixed race. Another Negro styled his nation HAMAJAUWI. And two individuals were from FAZOGLO.

It appeared that all present, without exception, came from the Bahr el Abiad or the White River; and as late accounts place Darfour within the valley, it is quite possible that no Negroes may reach Egypt from countries beyond the waters

of the Nile.

I did not find in Egypt the scars and marks on the skin, or the filed teeth, which usually distinguish aboriginal Negroes. In the slave-market I remarked among the females considerable variety in the mode of dressing the hair; and much pains had been often taken to form it into rolls, or in other instances into numerous slender braids. I once observed the eyelids coloured with blue paint, as a substitute for "kohhl," which latter material would hardly in this instance have been conspicuous on the complexion. The Negroes seen in Egypt appeared to me unusually slender, even after making every allowance for the style of dress.

The following extract from Leo Africanus, which is borne

out in some measure by Bruce's account of the Shangalla, refers to the primitive condition of Central Africa, prior to the visits of the Muslims. "The land of Negroes was then inhabited by men living in the manner of beasts; without kings, lords, senates, government, or taxes. They hardly sowed corn, had no clothing but skins, and no property in wives. They spent the day in tending their herds, or in labouring the ground. At night they met in little companies of ten or twelve, men and women, in bowers covered with boughs of trees. They never made war, or travelled, but contentedly lived all their days in their native country, and never set foot out of it."

At the present day, three important Muslim-Negro kingdoms are found along the southern border of the Desert: Darfour, Bornou, and Soudan. An account of the two last may be found in the work of Denham and Clapperton. Darfour is less known; although, in the eye of the Egyptian Arab, it ranks as one of the three great political powers which divide the earth; the two others being Persia and Constantinople.

On

At Singapore I saw two Negroes in the shop of the Abyssinian Arab, who, in their deportment, in their air of resolution and self-respect, seemed a different class of beings from those of their race I had previously met with. inquiry, I was informed that "the black Arabs come chiefly from Sennaar;" and on regarding the two individuals more closely, I thought I could distinguish the costume of Bornou, as figured by Denham and Clapperton. It appears, however, from Burckhardt, that pilgrims very rarely come from as far west as Bornou; and the probable origin of the above individuals may have been Kordofan or Darfour. The head was habitually uncovered, and one had the wool so close as fairly to justify the appellation of "pepper-haired," which is so universally applied to the race in Eastern countries. They had doubtless come by the way of Mocha. But I did not meet with the same costume on my recent journey.

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CHAPTER X.

THE ETHIOPIAN RACE.

THE Ethiopian race is in some measure intermediate in personal appearance between the Telingan and the Negro. The complexion too seems generally darker than in the Telingan race, holding the third rank in depth of hue. The hair is crisped, but fine in its texture; and I have never seen it wiry, as in the Papuan; from which latter race the Ethiopian differs, in having a soft skin and European-like features.

Various modern travellers have been struck with the resemblance of the Ethiopian to the Telingan race. The same circumstance was noticed in ancient times by Herodotus, who also speaks of the remarkable beauty of those living southwest of Arabia ;* an opinion in which, from actual observation, I am now prepared to concur.

The Ethiopian race occupies the hottest countries of Africa. Most of its tribes are purely pastoral; and some of them are, perhaps, alone acquainted with all the recesses of the Great Desert. The only portions of the race that are known to lead an agricultural life are the Nubians of the Nile, and some of the tribes bordering on the table-land of Abyssinia.

Characteristic portraits of Ethiopians may be found in various works on Egypt and Nubia; and I would refer particularly to the figures given in Hoskin's Travels on the Upper Nile.

The Ethiopian race was not seen in its purity during the voyage of the Exploring Expedition, but it was doubtless present among some of the mixed Arabs at Singapore. My acquaintance with it commenced on the day of my landing in Egypt.

Herodotus, Thalia, 101, 114, &c.