The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-12-12

vonio peoples In Europe. They are even more
markedly unlike the Hottentcts or the BUSH
mon than are tho slavs to the Ffnns' or tnan
both OF these are TO those aborigines OF nortn'
ern Europe. the Lapps. The Bantu' OF kanrs'
who dwell south of the Zambcsi. are usually
strong and well-mado men. not below inc aVor-
age height OF n European. In color they vary =
good deal; some are as black as n Gun OF
Guinea negro. some rather brown than oiaek.
All have the thick lips. the woolly hair. ana
the scanty beard OF tho negro. and nearly All
the broad, low nose; yet, in some. tne hoSeiS
fairly high. and the cast OF features suggests an
admixture Of Semitic blood, an admixture which
can DO easily explained by the presence from a
time which, at shortest, is pretty REMOTE OF
Arab settlers, as we'll as traders along the
coasts OF the Indian Ocean. As tho Bantu vary
in aspect. so do they. also. in Intelligence NO
whole tribe. however. is in this respect con-
spicuously superior to my other, though the
Zulus show moro courage In fight than most
Of the others. the FinRos more aptitude
for trade. the Basutos moro disposition TO
steady industry. But, while tho general
level of intellect 10 below that OF the
red Indiana. or Of tho Maoris. or OF tho Hawaii
ans, II rather above that of the Guinea negroes
individuals are now and then found OF consid-
cradle talents and great force OF character.
Three such men as the Zulu Tshaka, the Basuto
hoohSoh "hu bho tiuRh
speak Of those who have received q regular
European education, are sufficient to show the
capacity of the race for occasionally reaching a
standard which white men must respect. In
one particular the Bantu race shows q KIND or
strength which the red Indians and Polyne-
SLAMS lack. They are q very prolific people. and
under the conditions of peace which European
rule secures they multiply with a rapidity
which some Of the whites deem Alarming.
How long the various Bantu tribes have been
in South Africa is q question on which no full
light has yet been thrown or can, indeed, DO
expected. Some Of them have a vague tradi-
ton that they came from tho north; but the
recollections of savages seldom go back more
than Eve or six generations, and retain little
more than the exploits or the genealogy OF
some conspicuous chief. When the Portuguese
arrived, toward the end of the fifteenth century.
they found Kafrs already inhabiting the coun-
try from Natal northward. Apparently. how
ever, they did not extend as far to the west of
Natal as they do now, and there Is reason to
think that considerable parts of the interior, such
rs the region which is now the Orange Free
State and Basutoland, were not yet occupied
by them. but left to the wandering Bushmen.
The Kafirs were then. and continued down to
our own time, in q state of incessant tribal war
fare; and, from time to time. one martial tribe
under q f~orceful chief would exterminate or
chase away some weaker clan and reduce wide
areas to wildernesses. OF any large conquests
or of any steady progress in the arts. either Of
war or Of peace, there is no record. and, indeed
in the general darkness. no trace. The history
of the native races, so far as it is ascertainable
begins with the advent Of the whites. and ever
after their advent remains extremely shadow
until, early in this century, the onward marcel
of settlement gave the Dutch and English colo
nists the means of becoming better acquainted
with their black neighbors. Across this dark
ness strikes one ray Of light. 1t is a very fain'
ray, but, in the absence Of all other light. 1t Il
precious. It is that which is supplied by thu
prehistoric ruins and tho abandoned gold work
inRs of Mashonaland.