Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1885-03-05

people of this region, the Bantus, have
never been conquered. They have
exclusive possession of the southern
half of the continent, except the
region Of the Hottentots and Bush
men, and extend at points 5 degrees
north of the equator. They are
negroid rather than negroes. Pro
lessor Keane shows that the negro is
numerically the most important Gle
ment in Egyptian Soudan, and
hitherto has held almost undisturbed
possession. Within the area of the
countless head-waters of the White
Nile it this portion of the Soudan is
concentrated one-half the population
of the whole Nile basin, from the
equatorial lakes to the Mediterranean,
and embraces an estimated population
of 40, 900, 900 of people. This includes
several powerful negro nations still
enjoying political autonomy. as the
Zandeh Nyam Nyam), the Mittu and
Monbuttu. Some of these occupy
regions within the Khedive's domain.
In these Nilotic people the salient
features of the negro race are less
prominent than elsewhere. Although
gress. the bulk of those peo-
pie are still nature worshipers.
When preparing for battle the
medicine man" flays an infant and
places the bleeding infant on the war
path, to be trampled by the warriors
marching to victory. Human fat is a
staple of trade. The Monbuttu cure
for future use the bodies of the slain
in battle and reserve their prisoners
for terrible cruelties These NiIotic
races in many cases are skilled in use
full industries, as agricultural, iron
smelling and casting, weaving and
the manufacture of pottery. The
form and ornamental designs of their
utensils display artistic tase, while
their iron implements have a temper
superior to that of European manu-
facture. They are canibals and yet
show a regard and devotion to the
weaker sex.
The Semites or Caucasic stock of
Northern Africa are described as the
Goktanides and the Ismaelites or
Arabs. Since the Mohammedan in
vasion o. the seventeenth century this
element has become predominant and
is the disturbing influence which in
spires fanaticism, promotes dealing in
slaves, and without it there would be
no Mahdis and no Egyptian question
to perplex the counsels of European
craftsmanship and to break up minis
tries.
In describing the characteristics of
these people this paper speaks of them
as proud, ignorant, bigoted, nomadic
owners of cattle, camels, horses and
slaves, hunters, robbers and warriors
ing for their cattle, slave-hunting and
war, while the women till the fields.
The Arab tribes are described as num-
erous and powerful, commanding
great influence among the surround
ing populations and often defy SUI
preme authority, or compel it to &C.
cept their conditions in the admins
tration of Eastern Soudan.
The same paper then speaks of the
Hamite races, the true, indigenous
element in North Africa, their kins-
men, the Sentites, being recent intru
ders from Arabia. The Ethiopian
Hamites, or northern group, the most
important, occupy the Suakim district
and their warriors largely participated
in the operations before and after the
battle of Ell Teb. They are described
as handsome, of bronze, swarthy or
light chocolate complexion, of eau
casio or European type of features,
with long, crisp hair, falling in ring
let's over the shoulders. They are de-
scribed as Jealous Mohammedans,
occupied chiefly with camel breeding
and as caravan leaders, governed by
hereditary sheikhs, and, like other
Hamitic and Semitic kindred else
where, are distinguished for their per-
sonal bravery and love of freedom.
From the third to the sixth century
of the present era they infested the
southern frontiers of Egypt, and
though often defeated by Aurelian and
Probus, continued to harass these
outlying provinces of the empire and
finally compelled Diocletiar to with
draw the Roman garrisons from the
region of the cataracts, replacing them
by the warlike Nubatal tribes from
the great oasis of Kargey, in Upper
Egypt.
The paper then proceeds to give an
account of these same people of ven
cradle antiquity, now known as the
Nubisns, and which, Graded in the
Kordofan Highlands, over 1000 years
ago, settling in the present Kargey
oasis and valley of the Nile about
Meroe. In 545 they embraced Chris
tianity and forn2ed the powerful
African Kingdom of Dongola, which
lasted 700 years and was overthrown
by the Arabs and came under the
dominion of Islam. The Milo Nubas
live in settled and semi-civilized
Mohammedan communities and are
treated on an equality in Egypt, where
large numbers are engaged as free
laborers, porters, costermongers and
in other pursuits. They are strong
and muscular, warlike and energetic
and generally excel the Egyptians.
The present Mahdi is Nubian of
Dengola, but has found his chief sup
port, not among his own countrymen,