The record-union., 1893-06-05
SAHARAN NEGROES.
A Race Whose Origin is Lost in
Obscurity.
First Occupants of Sahara-Their We'd
ding Feasts Are Picturesque and
Romantic-Women Love Bright
ColOrs,

odlcal tides from an overflow OF pOpuIa-
ton or urged by the ambition of con-
quest. From a study of the vague tradi-
tions of the natives and the contradictory
accounts given by the Arabian, Greek
and Roman historians, we are led to be-
lieve that all races of Northern Africa
and probably of the whole continent, have
Asiatic origin, and that the Saharan
negroes, the Moors, Berbers and Arabs,
represent four human strata, four in
vasions having taken place at an interval
of many centuries, the dates of which are
lost in the mist of time. History men
tons only the two great invasions of the
Arab nomads, which took place in the
seventh and eleventh centuries after
Christ. The Nandals and Romans, who
each in turn invaded also Northern
Africa, have left no representatives be-
hind them; their scarce vestiges having
been absorbed by admiXture with the
BerOers, no genealogy of them is in eX
lstence. However, there is almost no adj
mixture of blood between the four races
mentioned, which Is due to natural re-
pugnance that each bears toward the
Others, and to the spirit of pride that each
processes for his own race.
The Berbers are the first occupants of
Barbary that history mentions. A clew
uneaI descendants of Shem, but the epoch
al which they settled in said country is
involved in the chaos of time. We have
ascertalned, however, that it was prior to
thirteen centuries before Christ Later,
III consequence OF their country being
successfully Overrun by the Romans,
Nandals and Arabs, part of the Berbers,
In detached tribes, took refuge in the des
ert of Sahara, where they found a new
race, the Saharan negroes, entirely un-
known to them. The first of these peri
odicaI emigrations took place about two
centuries before Christ, and then only the
Saharan negroes came into notice. The
ancient historians make no mention of
this race, and the rare travellers who re-
Gently ventured through the region they
inhabited reported that race as being a
halt-cast of Soudanese negro slaves and
white races of the north. That opinion is
absolutely erroneous.
THE sAHARAN NEGROES.
The Saharan negroes form distinct
race whose origin is involved in obscur-
ity. According to the traditions and to
all appearances, they were the first occu-
pants OF the Sahara and probably OF
Barbary also though they LETT no trace
there. For long but remote time they
thrived in full Independence along the
valley of the Wad Mya and Wad Rirh
where numerous traces of ruined cities
and villages are still in existence. Rec
Ords show that they had been occupying
that region many years before Christ,
when the Berbers entered the Sahara,
took possession of this land and imposed
small tribute upon the occupants. In
the eleventh century, when the Arab
nUmads made their second invasion OF
Earbary, they advanced through North
ern Sahara and almost eXterminated the
Saharan negroes, and Berbers settled
there, destroying their cities and planta-
tons. Tradition, authenticated by fos-
sis. claims that natural forests were in
existence all along the Wad kirh and
Wad Mya, but the nomads, those enc
mics of agriculture and industry, brought
devastation with them. 1t is principally
themselves who made Northern Sahara
desert by pillaging the peaceful natives
and devastating the gardens with their
herds of cattle Thus the aborigines, de-
prived of their means of life. ned else
where, while those who remained We're
enslaved by the invaders.
The Saharan negroes, known to be still
existing, form the main population Of
Wargla and NgOusa. Others fled into
Central Sahara, where they live more or
less Independently among the Tuariks.
The Saharan negro has almost nothing
in common with the SOudanese negro;
his frame, countenance and characteristics
show race entirely different. The former
is.of medium size, rather unsymmetrical,
his limbs being out of proportion. He
has SuOTl 4eRSs long arms IOuR, TOuuu, re-
plete body, broad shoulders, wide and
bulged forehead, with a long face, and
gingerbread complexion. The thick lips
and hair are the only features common to
both races, but the black, curly hair that
both races exhibit must not be attributed
to a relation of blood, but rather to the
effects OF the heat, as their heads are often
exposed uncovered to the sun.
THEY LIVE BY AGRICULTURE.
Jaborious and peaceful, the Saharan
negroes live by agriculture, and would
prosper at any time but for the ravages
of the Arab nomads and Berbers. Little
industry is pursued by men, but the
women are busily engaged at spinning,
weaving or braidiug, and by their labor
their whole families are clothed. Their
costume is most simple; cotton gau-
doura falling to the knees and girdled
around the body, and white cap, resem-
bling much lady's nlghtcap, form all the
complications OF a mans attire. Neither
is the dress of the woman more compli-
Gated; like that of the man, it Is COM
posed OF two pieces only, the 'malghafa, "
long, white robe, generally red, which
color becomes well their complexion,
and the "begnuk,' head covering in the
form of mantilla. No shoes of any kind
are worn by either sex. The men have
their hair cut, but the women let it grow
and hang as low as the shoulders, orna-
mented with small shells strung together.
their heads to part their hair perma-
nently and thus simplify considerably
the tedious feminine toilet. For this pur-
pose a semi-circular line of PASTE like a
ribbon one and a half inches wide, is
drawn from ear to ear over the top OF the
head. This paste hardens and generally
years pass before a new coat is necessary.
Several bracelets and ankletS are also
worn by all women; while necklaces of
small, wildly eolored shells are exhib-
tied BY the wealthier.
The SaharAu negroes being less rigor-
Gus or Jealous than all the other races,
their wives are not kept secluded, neither
are they obliged to conceal their faces
from the strangers. Polygamy exists
also among them, but marriage is not
performed blindly as among the other
races; the young people can see and
kpeak to each other, and from that inter
nourse, though somewh restrained, love
may spring up and add some poetry to
marriage. Besides the paternal power is
limited among them: while the Arab and
Berber throw their daughters helpless
Into the arms OF any man who gratities
their cupidity with a present. the Saba
ran negro takes the wish OF his daughter
Into consideration. For this reason prob
AbIy we see few divorces among them.
WEDDING CEREMONIES.
Their wedding ceremonies bear some
ne.uliar characteristics. The two inter-
hsted. after an acquaintance, either acct
dental or arranged by relatives or friends,
express their mutual wishes freely, and,
II both are concordant, the parents of the
koung man take up the matter, parley
Is solicited from the young girls parents
In which the conditions are debated and
Ill arrangements made. Like all the Sa-
baran races the Saharan negroes practice