Rapides gazette. (Alexandria, La.) 1869-187?, 1873-07-12
|, The Sons Of Ham~A

MUCH Of, the aptipathy which, we white
people have to. ti1e Africans is, without
doubt, simply owing to the difference
which exists between US and them in
color of skin and form of feature. This
feeling is somewhat excusable; for it is
rarely ont of Africa that we meet with.
Africans who are calculated to win our
admiration or regard. In England are
generally seen certain miserable speci-
mems of the West Coast negro races, or
some spoiled and petted creature, for
whom perhaps money is solicited, that he
may be kept in a state of idleness, and
who excites contempt by IN aping of gem
tility, which sits upon him with an i'll
grace, or disgusts-us with an assumption
of superior piety, in which we. cannot be-
lieve. 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 servitude, and in whom, there
fore, we find but little that is calculated
to remove the barrier which exists to our
unreserved acceptance Of the African as
"a man and q brother" From these, and
such as these, who are almost invariably
connected with the negro races of,Western
Africa, we have formed our opinions, and
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 de-
scendants of Ham as in those of Shem and
Japheth. All are distinctly African; bat
the retreatiig forehead, prominent jaws,
and Informed body with which the negro
is generally credited are not COMMON
In South Africa there is remark able
illustration of theJ physical and mental
diferencesswhich may exist IN tribes that
are almost contiguous. The Bosjesmen
are dwarfed in body and stunted in mind.
Their language insits uttersnce seems to
be not far removed from the unintelligent
gfbbering of the ape. Their habits are
those of wild beasts rather than of hui
man beings. They occupy about the
lowest position in the scale of humanity.
Yet we shall look in vain for finer speci-
mems of the genus homo than the Zulu
Caffres. Thy are tall In stature, manly
in bearing, and graceful in movement.
Their language Is pleasant to the ear, and
capable Of expressing almost any thought
the human mind is capable Of conceiving.
They are logical In reasoning, patient In
argument, and acute in. observation.
They are warlike, for they are pastoral in
their pursuits and since the days of the
Hyksos, the old shepherd kings who were
the terror ofEgypt, the lovers of focks
and herds have been fond of fighting.
When their blood is up, their anger RACES
unchecked by teuderregard or the claims
of pity; but they. do not brood over their
wrongs, and they, readily forget and for
give dThey fought JUS, like, men, and
during truce they behaved themselves
like gentlemen" was said of them by q
man who had been engagedin war against
them. In times of peace they are court
eous to strangers, liberal IN hospitality,
and to the trust reposed in them they re-
spond with an Arab-like fidelity. When
once the host has kissed the hand OF bis
guest, there needs neither guards nor
weapons, for his life and property are
perfectly secure. ~ -..t