Smyrna times., 1873-07-02
The Sons Of Ham.

Much OF the antipathy which we white peo-
pie have to the Africans is, without doubt,
simply owing to the difference which exists
between us and them i'll color of skin and form
of feature. This feeling is somewhat excusable;
for it is rarely out of Africa that we meet with
Africans who are calculated to win our admira-
ton or regard In England are generally seen
certain miserable specimens of the West Coast
negro races, or some spoiled aud petted crea-
ture, for whom perhaps money is solicited, that
he may be kept in d state of idleness, and who
excltes contempt by anaping of gentility which
sits upon him with an i'll grace, or disgusts us
with an assumption OF superior piety, in which
we eau not believe. In America and the West
Indies we find only slaves, or the descendants
OF slaves, who are more or less weighed down
| and degraded by the burden of their past or
present seryitude, and in whom, therefore, we
hnd bat little that is calculated to remove the
barrier which exists to our unreserved accept
| ance of the African as ga man and brother"
From these, and such as these, who are almost
| invariably connected with the negro races
OF estern Africa, we have formed our opin.
IONS, and have had our feelings excited upon
| the Africans in general -.
| But though the negro is an African, all
| Africans are not negroes. There are the same
varieties to be observed in the descendants of
Ham as in those of Shem and Japheth. All are
distinctly African; but the retreating fore
head, prominent jaws, and Informed body
with which the negro Is generally credited are
| not common.
In South Africa there is remarkable Illus
tration of the physical aud mental differences
which may exist in tribes that are almost con-
tguous. The BoSjeSmen are dwarfed in body
and stunt edm mind. Their language in its
utterance seems to be not far removed from the
unlntelllgent gibbering Of the ape. Their
habits are those of wild beasts rather than of
human beings. They occupy about the lowest
position 10 the scale of humanity Yet we
shall look in vain for finer specimens of the
genus homo than the Zulu Caffres. They are
tall in stature, manly in bearing, and graceful
in movement. Their language is pleasant tC
the ear, and capable of expressing almost
any thought the human mind is capable of
concelviDg. They are logical in reasoning
patient in argument, and acute in observation
They are Warlike, for they are pastoral in theil
pursuits and since the days OF the Hyksos, the
old shepherd kings who were the terror Of
Egypt the lovers Of focks and herds have beer
fond of fighting. When their blood is up
their anger RACES unchecked by tender regard
or the claims Of pity; but they do not brooC
over their wrongs and they readily forget anC
forgive. "They fought us like men, and during
truce they behaved themselves like gentle
men, was said of them by a man who haC
been engaged in war against them. In time
OF peace they are courteous to strangers liberia
in hospitality, and to the trust reposed in then
they respond with an Arab-lke fidelity. Whel
once the host has kissed the hand of his guest
there needs neither guards nor weapons, fo
his life and property are perfectly secure
Harper's Weekly.