The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1865-06-23
The Ancient Negro.

Lit is noteworthy that an old error has
been recently revived and is now going
the rounds of the newspapers, and is some
times repeated by public speakers. 1t
consists, says the New York Journal of
Commerce., in the statement that the At
rican, OF the negro type, is the descend
ant of the inhabitants of ancient Egypt.
In other words that the ancient Egyptians
were negroes. 1t is somewhat curious
that such statements as this can obtain
currency in the face of so much knowl-
edge and diffused information as the mod
ern world possesses but the age is one
in which men believe very easily, and the
temptation to deceive is very great.
1t would be difficult to prove that the
antediluvian race was not negro race
if any one chooses to assert that it was
For we have no remaining evidence on
the subject. So of many other classes in
various historical periods. But the knowl-
edge we possess of the features, complexion
and physique of the ancient Egyptians is
as complete and minute as that we now
have Of the inhabitants of Sumatra or of
Hawaii. The Egyptian monuments and
tombs contain thousands of descriptive
paintings and portraits. 1t is interesting
to notice among them the differences
which existed between races as long ago
as B. G. 1000 and 1900, and even at a
more remote period. The whole world
seems to have looked to Egypt at one
time as the centre of light and civiliza-
ton, and in the various conquests of the
warlike Kings of Egypt, they brought
numerous captives to the Nile country,
and the portraits of these various captives
are found in great abundance on the monu-
mcnts to this day. The negro was a
slave in Egypt then, and his portrait ap-
pears frequently, with the same peculiari-
ties which now mark it. He is represent
ed in many of the attitudes peculiar to the
modern Ethiopian. The thick lips, woolly
hair, black complexion, peculiar limbs,
all are accurately represented. The As
syrian is frequently found on the Egyp-
tan monuments, and the type of counte-
nance is always marked and unmistakeable.
The Egyptian race was one of peculiar
and decidedly noble countenauce and ap-
pearanco. 1t was as unlike the ancient
Ethiopian as the modern Caucasian is I'M
like the modern African. There was no
point of resemblance, and it should be i'm
possible for any well-informed person to
fall into the error to which we have allu-
ded. The numerous books now published
in which illustrations from the monuments
are given, and the presence in this coun-
try of many Egyptian antiquities, should
prevent the mistake. And if the pictures
from the monuments are not enough, we
have thousands and thousands of exam.
Piles, in the identical bodies of the ancient
Egyptians, mummied and preserved to
this day. Thus any one who has any
curiosity on the subject may go into the
Abbott Collection of the New York His
torical Society, and there examine the
heads of various Egyptian ladies and gen.
tlemen. The long braids of silken hair
which yet remain on the head of the dead
Egyptian lady, abundantly attest her free
dom from negro blood, while the narrow
foot, with its high arched i1step inclosed
in the white kid slipper, speaks of grace
and beauty of form which there are album
dant other reasons to believe was possessed
by the ladies of Pbaraonic times. 1t is
a strange fact in history that the negro,
as depicted on Egyptian monuments three
thousand years ago, was the negro of our
day.
g. The student of nature can find no