The Hawaiian gazette., 1885-03-18


The Anthropological Society of Washington
have Just received from the Anthropological
Institute of London an extremely interesting
paper on the ethnology Of Egyptian Soudan,
prepared by Professor A. H. Keene, member
of the Institute Council. This paper throws
much light upon the characteristics of the
warlike and predatory peoples who, under a
leader Of Islam, are to-day disputing the oecu-
patton of their territory by one of the most
formidable nations of ChTistendom. The writer
states the expression Soudan, or Beled-es-Sou-
dan, Gland Of the Blacks" applies to the
whole region between the Atlantic and the
Red Sea and from the Sahara and Egypt to-
wards the equator. Ethnically speaking, it is
the land OF transition between the Hamites of
the North and the Negroes of South Africa.
The East Soudan, the scene Of the British
military operations, the writer says, is the
eonverging point of nearly all the African race.
In giving 1.-THE distribution of these races, he
says that the Somerset Nile, connecting Lake
Victoria and Albert Nyanza flows through
Bantr territory. The Bahr-el-Jebel between
Lake Albert and the Sotat confluence is held
by negroes The White Nile between Sobat
and the Blue Nile conhrences, and the main
stream northwards is occupied on the left
chiefly by Samites and the right by Hamites.
From Dongola to Asnan, on the Egyptian from
tier the valley between the Lybian and Arab
ian Deserts is held by Nubians. The whole
region east of this valley, as far as the Red Sea
and,beeween the Abyssinian highlands and the
coast round to Cape Gardafui 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
provinces Of Kordofan and Darfur Semites,
Nubians, negroes and even Hamites and Flu
labs are intermingled. Thus along the course
of the Nile the writer shows that the Bantus
and negroes occupy the south, the Semites and
Hamites the centre and Nubians the North.
AN uEcoNoUERED PEOPLE.
Although officially included in the Egyptian
Province of the equator, the people of this re-
gion, the Bantus, have never been conquered
They have exclusive possession of the south
ern half Of the continent, except the region OF
the Hottentots and Bushmen, ard extend at
points five degrees north of the equator. They
are negroid rather than negroes. Professor
Keane shows that the negro is numerically
tie most important element in the Egyptian
Soudan, and hitherto has held almost undis-
turbed possession. Within the area OF the
countless headwaters 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 mil
lions of people. This includes several power
full negro nations still enjoying political auton-
omy, as the Zandeh (Nyam Nyam,) the Mittu
and Monbuttu. Some of these occupy regions
within the Khedive's domain In these Nilotic
peoples the salient features of the negro race
are less prominent than elsewhere. Although
Islam has made some progress the bulk OF
these people are nature worshippers. When
preparing for battle the medicine man" Stays
an infant and places the bleeding victim on
the war-path to be trampled by the war
riors marching to victory. Human tat is a
staple of trade. 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
industries, as agriculture, iron smelling and
casting, weaving and the manufacture of pot
terry. The form and ornamental designs OF
their utensils display artistic taste, while their
iron implements have temper superior to
those of European manufacture. They are can
nibals and yet show a regard and devotion to
the weaker sex.
THE SLAVE DEALERS.
The Semites or Caucasian stock of northeast
ern Africa are described as the Goktanides
and the Ismaelites or Arabs. Since the Mo-
hammedan invas on of the seventeenth century
this element has become predominant and is
the disturbing influence which inspires fanati-
cism. promotes dealing in slaves, and without
it there would be no Mahdis and no Egyptian
question to perple1 the councils of European
craftsmanship and to break up Ministries.
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. 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 and
powerful, commanding great influence among
the surrounding populations and often defy
the supreme authority or compel it to accept
their conditions in the administration of east
ern 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 Ham,
ties, or northern group, the most important.
occupy tue Suakim district and their warriors
participated largely in the operations before
aud after the battle of Ell Teb. They are des-
cribed as handsome, of bronze, swartby OIL
light chocolate complexion, of Caucasic or Eu.
ropean type Of features, with long, crisp hair
falling in ringlets over the shoulders. They
are described as Jealous Mohammedans, occu-