, 1865-06-16
The Ancient Negrnea.

1t Is noteworthy that an old error has
been revived, and is now going the rounds
OF the newspapers, and is sometimes repeated
oy the public speakers. 1t consists in the
statement that the African, of the negro
type, is the descendant of the inhabitants of
ancient Egypt. In other words, that the an
clent Egyptians we're negroes 1t is some
what curious that such statements as this
can obtain currency in the face of SO much
knowledge and difused information as the
modern 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 antedlu-
Wan race was not negro race-if any one
chose to assert that it was for we have no
remaining evidence on the subject So of
many other classes of men in various histor-
ical periods But the knowledge we DOS.
Bess of the features, complexion and phys.
ique of the ancient Egyptians is as complete
and minute as that we now have of the in
habitants of Sumatra or of Hawaii. The
Egyptian monuments and tombs contain
thousands of descriptive paintings and por-
traits. 1t is interesting to notice among
them the differences which existed between
the races as long ago as B. G. 1000 and l.
900, and even at a remoter period. The
whole world seems to have looked at Egypt
At one time as the center of light and civil
sation, and in the various conquests of the
warlike Kings of Egypt, they brought nu-
merous captives to the Nile country, and
the portraits of these various captives are
FOrn in
ments to this day. The negro was slave
in Egypt then, and his portrait appears fre-
quently with the same peculiarities which
now mark it. He is represented in many of
the attidutes peculiar to the modern Ethio-
plan. The thick lips, wooly hair, black
complexion, peculiar limbs, all are accurate
ly represented The Assyrian is frequently
found on the Egyptian monuments, and the
type of countenance is always marked and
unmistakable. The Egyptian race was one
Of peculiar and decidedly noble counteuance
and appearance. 1t was as unlike the an.
cient Ethiopian as the modern Caucasian is
unlike the modern African. There was no
point of sembance, and it should be impos
sibIe for any we'll informed person to fall
into the error to which we have alluded.
The numerous books now published in which
illustrations from the monuments are given,
and the presence in this country of many
Egyptian antiquities, should prevent the
mistake. And if the pictures from the
monuments are not enough, we have thou
sands on thousands of examples in the iden-
tical bodies of the ancient Egyptians, num-
mied and preserved to our own day. Thus,
any one who has any curiosity on the sub.
ject may go to the Abbott collection of the
New York Historical Society, and there ex-
anime the heads of various Egyptian ladies
and gentlemen. The long brads of silken
hair which 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 instep, inclosed
in the white kid slipper, speaks of a grace
and beauty of form which there is abuund-
ant other reason to believe was possessed by
the ladies Of Pharaoic times. 1t is strange
fact in history that the negro as depicted on
Egyptian Monuments three thousand years
sgo, was the negro Of our day.-JOurnaI of
Commerce.