The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-12-08

attributed 10 the evil spirit. are sometimes
heard issuing from the tomb. There Is no
country In the world in which there are so
many churches rs in Abyssnia, and it is siR-
nfcant fact to the student of their history that
they call TO mind tho affairs and temples spoken
OF in the Old Testament They are mostly built
on high places. surrounded by groves and di-
vided into three compartments corresponding
to the Court Of the Levites. that OF
tho priests and the Holy Of Holes. In
the inner sanctuary 10 kept an ark.
which. in cases OF emergency. is car
ried to tho place where the army ls en-
camped. We note. also. that the precincts OF
these churches are sanctuaries for offenders.
and further, that Saturday. being the Jewish
Sabbath. brings rest from all labor. We need
not say that the Abyssinians are priest ridden
and bgotcd to the last degree. and that the Has
ruos his people principally through the church
but II is loss generally known that the ecclest-
astical constitution il episcopal. and that the
| ceremonial is extremely elaborate.
| II will be interesting to consider together the
Ashantls and the Fulahs or Felatahs since their
territories are contiguous. tho former inhabit-
| ing a tract between the so-called Kong Noun
tains and the Gulf OF Guinea, while tho latter
are found between the northern slopes OF the
Same range and the valley Of the Niger. They
| offer too a suggestive contrast from religious
| point Of view. fetichism prevailing among the
coast tribes whereas th0ir noighbors on the
north are fervent Mussulmans, representing
the ultimate wave OF the Moslom propaganda In
this direction. As regards physical traits. there
| Is nothing strikngly distinctive In the Asian
It's to mark them of from the Dahomans or
other coast negroes, but the Fulahs deserve more
attention. As was hintcd above. they differ from
the black race In all the characteristics which
arc marked by physical anthropology. They
are OF tawny or chestnut color. with thin lips.
| prominent nose, oval face. and soft. silky hair.
| In height they arc about Ave feet ten inches.
| very straight and muscular. although a some-
| what spare diet fails to impart TO their limbs
all the development OF which they are capable.
| The males are said to be very handsome. hut
their comoliness soon fades while. contrary to
what we should expect the women preserve
their beauty much longer. In manner these
people are noble and diRniAed and they are
beyond doubt the most intelligent OF all the
African tribes.
In all the features Of civilization the Fulahs
exhibit a signal superiority TO their Ashanti
neighbors. Tho latter nrc governed by an alb
solute monarch. who is the the legal heir OF all
| his subjects and who is accustomed 10 guard
against assassination by decreeing that a whole
sale slaughter OF his officers and slaves shall
follow his own death. On the other hand the
Fulnh States form a species OF confcderacy
ruled by an oligarchic council with an
elective head Moreover. little reason
seems to exist for dreadinR the re-
sentiment provoked by abuses OF authority in
public or private life that II is tho custom to
manumit all the slaves belonging 70 II given in
diyidual upon the masters death. As regards
religion. the Fulahs are rigid Mohammedans.
and like most recent converts are animated by
n strong zeal for proeoytism. They make pill
grimages to Mecca. and there are mosques in
all their towns. In Ashantec. on the other hand.
every town has fetch house. or temple.
in which images are placed. to whom the
King and chief men sacrifice human be-
ings. Although a vague notion Of u future state
universally prevails among these people. they
do not seem to associate any idea OF punishment
In another world with crimes committed here.
The Ashantis. we may add. have a curious
tradition OF creation. according to which the
Father OF the Universe formed man OF two
colors. each pair being allowed to fix their des-
tiny. but the black people committed tho blunder
Of choosing calabash in preference to a sealed
letter or paper.
Let us pass now to tho Kaffirs. and especially
to that subdivision OF the rnce. the Zulus. who
have lately sh own themselves formidable TO
the British settlements in South Africa. The
prevailing color among them il a mixture OF
black and red. the most common shade being
chocolate. Generally the hair is black. tho eyes
dark and lively. the nose not fiat. but
sufficiently aquiline, and the teeth Of bril-
liant wilderness. The Zulus are OF middle
stature hold themselves exceedingly upright
and have quick and dignned step. their
form being graceful. and their whole exterior
denotng strength and spirit singular trait
has been remarked by travellers in the Zulus.
and that Is the imperviousness Of their flesh to
heat. They frequently arrange, for in
stance burning tagots with their feet and
, with the same unconcern dip their hands into
the cooking vessels. and feed themselves with
Indian corn while /, is boiling in the water. As
regards mental capacity the children are
found 10 be quick and Gocile while the
men grow with advancing years 10 n
remarkable degree OF intelligence and sa-
gacity. But il is for their moral and
emotional traits that the Zuus are especially
, noteworthy. They are a Vivacous. good
humored people; but II is stated by men
familiar with them that a blow given oven in
. play by European must be returned. love
r OF liberty is observable in all who have the Zulu
blood and 1t is IA strange anomaly in the history
, Of South Africa that none OF the Kallir tribes
r have been reduced 20 bondage. But for the
I concurrent testimony cited in this volume the
, good character ascribed to this race would
I be scarcely credible. Thus the Kaffrs are
said 10 be entirely destitute OF fear
yet TO seldom engage in war. unless
Q for some direct insult or act OF injus-
ticc ieyclled against the whole or some Nom
q bers OF the community They are further re-
A ported to be constant 10 their friends. frugal
. and temperate. loving cleanliness and respect
, ing welded faith. violation Of the marriage
q VOW is very rare occurrence on the part
, of a wife. and Of the Kaflr women
in general Barrow states that he found
them modest without excessive reserve. ex-
4 tremely nquisitlve without being troublesome
lively but not impudent. and sportiye without
r. the least shadow Of lewdness. Among the
y Lulus children are remarked to have a very
/ laudable respect for their parents. but when
i they have arrived ut certain age. should
- their mothers attempt TO ehastse thom
y the lads arc allowed by law TO XII
A them The idea once disseminated by IN,
@ Dutch that the Zulus are a savage and crue
r race has been entirely dispelled by English
+ travellers. The Northern Kafirs are exception
i ally humane to their prisoners Of war. and II Is