The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1849-12-01
The Ghilancs- New Race Of Men.

14CfQuIluuCS- -lVCW hdCC vi Mtl
Colonel Du Couret, who has travelle
extensively in Africa, making new explt
rations in hitherto (unffequented regions
has recently made a report to the Frenc
Academy of.Sciences in reference to
singular race oof men who inhabited tn
Interior, soho are furnished Nth tails.r
The tribe numbers about 10000, an
members of it, are slaves in the city c
Mecca. aTheir height is from four to fiv
feetazThe theory of an unbroken chair
efTbeingin the universe seems likely t,
he realizod, in spite of ridicule or reason
Ehsy afford rich theme for the discussion
of naturalists and philosophers. The fol
lowing extractfrom the report taken from
the Paris correspondence ofthe New Yorl
Journal of Commerce: 500" aiA'
"f'inhabited Mecca in 1342," says NJ
Du Couret, 'and being often at the house
OF an Emir, with whom was intimate,
spoke to him of the Ghilane race, and
told him how much the Europeans doubt
ed the existence Of men with tails, that is
tosay, the vertebral column elongated ex-
ternally. In order to convince me of the
reality ofthe species, the Emir ordered be-
fore me one of his slaves, called Bellal.
who was about thirty years old, who
had tail, and who belonged to this tribe.
On surveying this man, | was thoroughly
convinced. He spoke Arabic well. and
appeared rather intelligent. He told me
that in his country, far beyond the Sen.
mar, which he had crossed, they spoke
different language; this, for want Of prac-
tice, he had entirely forgotten; that of his
compatriots whom he estimated at thirty or
forty thousand, some worshipped the sun.
the moon, or the stars, others the serpent
and the sources of an immense river in
which they inundated their victims, (prob-
ably the source Of the Nile, that they eat
with delight raw flesh, as bloody as possi-
BILE, and that they loved human flesh above
all things-that after their battles with the
neighboring tribes, they slaughtered and
devoured their prisoners without distinc-
ton to age or sex but that the women and
children were preferable, their flesh being
more delicate. This Ghlane had become
adeyout Muzzulman, and had lived Is
years in the Holy City. a .ar ..rrH
s''The fondness, the necessity even for
raw flesh, (it really was want for him.
did not fail to return upon him. and his
master, therefore, by precaution, never
failed when this fit was on him, to provide
him with a large piece of raw mutton,
which he consumed ravenously before
every body. The desire for raw flesh
came upon him periodically, sometimes
twice week. Being asked why he did
not try to correct such habit he answer |
ed with great irankness, have often tried |
to over come this habit, which received
from my father and mother. In my coun-
try, young and old, great and small, live
in this manner, besides eating fish, fruits
and vegetables If my master neglected
to supply this requirement of our nature,
am sure | could not resist the desire
which possesses me of devouring some
thing, and should cause great sorrow by
falling Oh some person too weak to con-
tend with me, an infant for example,
Having asked him to allow me to see him
naked, (for wished to sketch him. he re-
sisted for a long time, but finally yielded
on the promise receiving an entire new
dress, which was TO send him, he came
privately to my house, where he took off
the scanty shirt of course blue linen which
he wore was thus enabled to contem-
plate him quite at my ease, and to paint
his portrait without exposing him to the
punishment which would have been in
ficted if he had been detected by his ia
natical and superst.tious master. The
drawing made under these circumstances
has been placed under the eyes of the
Academy"
Here is the portrait of Bellal, the name
of the parsonage the author encountered
at Mecca: .,.r. $751;. ...
..IIe was thin and dry, but nervous and
strong. His skin was black, bronzed,
shining, soft to the touch like velvet. His
feet were long and fiat, his arms and legs
appeared feeble, but well supplied with
muscles. His ribs could easily be counted.
Ills face was repulsively ugly. His mouth
vas enormous; his lips thick; his teeth !
strong, sharp, and very white; his ears
ong and deformed; his forehead low and
,ery receding; his hair not very woolly nor :
hick, but nevertheless curly. He had no =
card, and his body was not hairy. He !
,as very active and handy. His height =
,as about five feet. His tail was more =.
han three inches long, and almost as flex- =
BILE as that of q monkey. His disposi- !,
ion setting aside the oddly Of his tastes :
nd habits, was good, and his fidelity was :.
bove all praise" 1a8 .