The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-02-14
THE LAND OF THE BLACKS.
Something About the Warlike and Preda-
tory People of Upper Egypt.

THE LAND OF THE BLACKS.
Something About the Warlike and Preda-
tory People of Upper Egypt.
Washington Special.
The Anthropological Society Of Washington
have Just received from the Anthropological In
stitute, of London, an extremely interesting pa
per an the ethrology of Egyptian soudan, pre-
pared by Professor A. H. Keane, member of
the Institute council. This paper throws much
light upon the characteristics of the warlike and
predatory peoples who, under leader of Islam,
are to-day disputing the occupation of their ter
rltory by one of the most formidable nations of
Christendom. The writer states that the ex-
preston Soudan or Beed Soudan, Land of
the Blacks" applies to the whole region between
the Atlantic and the Red Sea, and from the Sa-
hara and Egypt towards the equator. Ethncally
speaking, it is the land of transition between
the Hamites of the North and the negroes of
South Africa. The East SouGan, the scene of
the British military operations, the writer says,
is the converging point of nearly all the
African races. In giving the distribution of
these races he says that the Somerset Nile, con-
Meeting Lake Victoria and Albert Nyanza, flows
through Bantu territory. The Bahr-el-Jebel be-
tween Lake Albert and the So5at confluence is
Sobat and TIE Blue Nile confiuences and the
main stream northwards is occupied on the left
chiefly by Semites, and right by Hamites
From Dongola to Asnan, on the Egyptian front
tier, the valley between the Lybyan and Arab
ian deserts, is held by Nubians. The whole re
gion east of this valley, as far as the Red Sea
and between the Abyssinian highlands and the
coast round to Cape Gardaful and south to the
equator, is held by Hamites. The arid wastes
and steppes west of the Nile are held entirely by
the Semitic nomads, while in the outlying prov
inces of Kordofan and Darfur, Semites, Nubians
negroes and even Hamites and Fulahs are inter
mingled Thus. along the course of the Nile
the writer shows that the Bantus and negroes
occupy the south the Semites and Hamites the
center, and Nubans the north.
Although officially included in the Egyptian
Province of the Equator the 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 Bushmen, and extend at points
five degrees north of the equator. They are
negroid rather than negroes. Professor Keane
shows that the negro is numerically the most
important element in Egyptian Soudan and
hitherto has held almost undisturbed possession.
WlthiI the area of the countless head-waters of
the White Nile in 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 forty millions of peo
pie. This includes several powerful
autonomy, as the Zandeh (Nyam Nyam),
the Mittu and Monbuttu. Some of these occupy
regions within the Khedives domain. In these
Nilotic peoples the salient features of the negro
race are less prominent than elsewhere. AL
though Islam has made some progress, the bulk
of these people are still nature worshipers.
When preparing for battle the medicine man"
fays an infant and places the bleeding victim on
the war-path, to be trampled by the warriors
marching to victory, Human fat is staple of
trade The Monbuttu cure for future use the
bodies of the slain In battle, and reserve their
prisoners for terrible cruelties. These Nilotic
races in many cases are skilled in useful indus
tries as agriculture, iron smelling and casting,
weaving and the manufacture of pottery. The
form and ornamental designs of their utensils
display artistic taste, while their iron imple-
ments have temper superior to that of Euro.
pean manufacture. They cannibas, and yet
show regard and devotion to the weaker sex.
The Semtes or Caucasic stock of northeastern
Africa are described as the Goktanides and the
Ismaelites or Arabs. Since the Mohammedan
invasion of the seventeenth century this element
has become predominant, and is the disturbing
influence which inspires fanaticism, promotes
dealing in slaves, and without it there would be no
Mahdis and no Egyptian question to perplex the
councils of European craftsmanship and to break
up ministries.
In describing the characteristics of these peo-
pie this paper speaks of them proud, ignorant
bgoted, nomadic owners OF cattle, camels, horses
and slaves. hunters. robbers and warriors, The
life of the men is devoted to caring for their
cattle, slave hunting and war, while the women
till the fields. The Arab tribes are described as
numerous aud powerful commanding great in
fuence among the surrounding populations, and
often defy the supreme authority or compel it to
: accept their conditions in the administration of
eastern Soudan.
The same paper then speaks of the Hamite
races, the true. indigenous element in North
Africa their kinsmen the Semites, being recent
intruders 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 I'll Teb. They are described as
handsome, of bronze, swarthy or light chocolate
complexion, of Caucasic or European type of
features with long, crisp hair falling in ringlets
over the shoulders. They are described as zeal
.Dus Mohammedans, occupied chiefly with camel
breeding and as caravan leaders, governed
by hereditary sheikhs. and, like their
Hamitic and Semitic Kindred elsewhere.
are distinguished for their personal
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. contin-
ned TO harass these outlying provinces of the
Empire and finally compelled Diocletian TO with
Draw the Roman garrisons from tho region OF