The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-12-08
SOME NEW BOOKS,
Recent Scientific Publications.


DUNCAN and published by the Appletons. is
devoted TO tho African races. excluding the
Egyptians as we'll as the Moorish and Malay
types found on the northern and eastern coasts.
Inasmuch rs the compiler had to do with socic-
ties having unknown histories his tables are
limited TO presentations OF the phenomena as
co-existing when these African communities
were discovered by Europeans. Moreover.
from the absence OF adequate accounts bytravel-
lers. the facts here brought together yield de-
scriptions less full than are desirable. 1t Is
also proper to point out in explanation OF GER
tain shortcomings that those extracts seem to
have been gathered aud distracted before the
latest discoveries OF Cameron aud Stanley were
made known. Nevertheless tho mass OF in
formation hero collected Is Of the utmost value
and is nowhere else accessible In an equally
compendious and Ineligible form. To exhibit
even in outline the scope and purport OF this
remarkable work would be scarcely possible in
the space at our command. We shall confnc
ourselves therefore for the most part to the sub
divisions treating OF those races which recent
events have brought into special notice. Such
are the Abysslnians tho Ashantis. and tho
Kaflrs. with whom the English have lately
been. and arc now at war. and we may add some
reference to curious race. tho Fulnhs. com
monty COMPOUNDED with negroes. but who in
reality occupy an intermediate space between
tho black type and the Arab.
In physical characteristics the race inhabitnR
Abyssinia seems to rank but little below the
Indo- Germanic peoples. The men are OF little
stature, averaging rather moro than flve feet
and seven inches In color some Of them arc
perfectly black, but the majority are brown or
Of n very light copper tint. Both men and
women are remarkably well formed. and in
general handsome. often strikngly so. the fo-
males Of the higher classes having largo dark
eyes and very pretty feet and hands. Like tho
natives Of all hot countries. they soon fall of.
but for about decade after puberty the Abys-
sinlan women. in feature. ms In shape. are
pronounced among tho most beautiful Of any
on the earth. Nowhere. perhaps do the young
people begin to think OF marriage at an earlier
age than in Abysslnia. Parkyns states
that he has seen brides Of eight or nine
| years old and boys at proportionately youthful
stage are considered manageable Proposals
| are made TO tho girls father. and. during the
| period OF betrothai tho young man Is never
allowed to see his intended wife even for a
moment It appears that both civil and church
| marriages exist In Abyssinia. although the
| latter are rarely solemnized except between
persons who have lived happily together until
| the decline OF life. Once sanctiaed by partak-
| ing OF the sacrament the bond is deemed in
| ulhbOlhules WntTtiS tut civil conlTdCl W
broken on the shortest notice and for the most
triling reasons In this country children
| follow the condition OF the father. not the
mother. and II is worth noting also that the
| right OF adoption is reciprocal. II n young
| man. for instance wishes 10 be adopted as the
| son Of one OF superior wealth or station. he
| takes the latters hand. and. sucking one OF his
fingers declares himself his child by adoption.
wherupon the now parent. although he should
| hold q financial position analogous TO Roths-
| childs. would be bound 10 assist him 10 the
| utmost OF his ability. As regards the domestic
habits OF the Abyssinians. It appears that the
dwellings OF the rich are spacious and some
what elaborate. There are usually about two
courts. one containing rooms for servants. and
the other the residence OF the master. Tho
latter consists OF three divisions. the middle
one being the reception hall. where the master
sleeps. eats. and receives visitors. On one side
| IL the retiring room OF the women on a raised
platform screened by "a wall. while on the other
Ia stable whose door opens into the masters
room. through which. accordingly. the mules
must pass on going in or out. II Is well known
that the natives prefer TO eat their meat raw as
soon Es the animal Is killed. but otherwise their
| diet seems to be civilized enough. For instance
they bake bread from several kinds OF -four.
compound vegetable soups. make butter and a
drink mead as well as different sorts OF beer.
| For dress the male Abyssinians wear a
pair OF tight cotton brooches. large belt
and mantle which Is said 10 resemble
the Roman toga. II seems to be n curious rem
inisccnce % the Old imperial vesture that along
both ends Of their robes runs q red stripe. Ave
or six inches broad. We may add that the So
called belts are really species OF gigantic
swathinG cloth. about yard in breadth and
varying in lengih from fifteen to sixty yards,
The married women Of Abyssinia are dressed
quite rs decently as any in the world. although
the distinguishing costume for young girls il
rather slight scarcely reaching 10 the knees
and leaving the right arm and breast exposed
Rich women. who have n mule for riding some.
times wear loose trousers. and great ladies use
a sort Of clumsy shoe made Of red or black
leather Like the women Of most Eastern ma.
tons. the Abyssinian ladies stain their hands
and feet in henna. and darkon theil
eyelids with anthony. They also tress and
butter their hair, and tho acme OF elegance Is tC
appear in the morning with huge pat Of butter
squeezed on the top Of the head. which. rs Il
gradually melts. runs over the hair down IN,
forehead. and into the eyes. The ladies O
Tigre tattoo themselves marking the feet
ankles. and calves OF the legs with lines 10 imi
tate rings. On their ankles are placed thre,
spending 10 the number Of bracelets on tn,
wrists, while on their instcps and heels Jingle
quantity Of little ornaments. strung like beads
on silk cord. When we add that AbyssniaI
ladies dance and receive. but never read lth,
whole literature Of the country is comprised II
hundred and ten volumesl. their mode Of ex
istence would seem to be sufficiently artificial.
Let us now glance briefly at the data co!lecte,
in this volume regarding the political. military
and religious status OF the Abyssinians. Tn
scheme Of government resembles curous
that which obtained in Japan up TO the recon
reinstatement OF the Mikado in his Temporal
authority. There is an Emperor who must be
long TO tho royal house of Solomon, but an
one Of the turbulent chiefs who has obtaine,
ascendency by force may become Ras or Prm
I Minister provided he create a titular Empero
TO perform the Indispensable ceremony O
nomination. The Ras, or King is above al
law. his decision being supreme in all causes
ecclesiastical and civil, while the land and per
sons Of his subjects revert TO him upoI
their death. Yet. strangely enough the basi
otlega judgments is an Ethiopic translation O