The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1939-10-07

slave traffic was
carried or all along the western
coast, from the Senegal all the way
down TO Angola. and in this great
strip OF land there lived at that
time Negroes OF various stocks. Be-
sides, the slave t.aders were not
so discriminate as to prefer Negroes
OF any particular stock. All they
wanted was slaves with a good sale
value on the market. regardless OF
what tribe or racial stock they
came from. However, the Madingo
stock has-ene-o of the most glorious
histories OF the stocks OF Western
Africa, and once upon a time found
ed one Of the most powerful and
cultured empires in West Africa.
Quoting from one source. we read
as follows about the Mandingoes
The West African tribes speaking
the Mandingc languages vary much
in outward appearances. Some OF
them may be West African Ne
groes of the forest .ype with inter-
m xture of foreign blood; others,
obviously obtain a non-Negro ele-
ment y their physique; al
though always black-skinned, often
have well-shaped nose and fairly
full beard. The tribes dwelling in
the West African forest are
rather Of a refined type, and some
Of them are lighter in skin color
than the more looking Man.
dingoes of the North. They i'm
posed degree of civilization which
excluded cannibalism, introduced
working in leather, and in metals,
and were everywhere signalized by
passionate love for music, a char
acteristic Of all Mandingo tribes at
the present day" Another source
says of the Mandingoes: The Man
dingoes are black in color, tall, and
well-shaped, with regular features,
and are, generally speaking, fine
race, capable of a high degree of
civilization, great travellers, fond Of
trading and music. and remarkable
for their industry and energy They
number from 10 to IL million"
or the Ashantis, one source says:
They Cthe Ashantis) are Of the
pure Negro type and are supposed
to be originally of the same race
as the Fantis, Having migrated
Southwark from the Niger and the
Senegal, and obtained possession Of
a region Of impenetrable forest. have
defended themselves with a valor,
which, becoming part of their ma
tional character, raised them TO the
rank Of a powerful and conquering
nation" Another source says:
When the first British mission
visited the Ashanti capital in 1917,
they were greatly astonished at
the display Of wealth and the mag
nificence Of the court The gorge
Gus silk umbrella canopies Of the
various chiefs, the thousands OF SOL
diers, the music, and the abundance
Of purest gold far surpassed any,
thing they had ever imagined. The
courtiers wore gorgeous silk robes
made OF foreign silks unravelled
and rewoven after their own FASH
ion. Intricately wrought gold jewel
ry, gold and silver pipes and canes,
and gold-handled swords decorated
with golden rams heads dazzled the
eyes and testified to the art OF the
Ashanti craftsmen"
OF the Fullahs, one source says:
l.One-of-the- most remarkable of
human elements in the present COM
position Of West Africa and the
Sudan, is and has been the Fullah
people. Their origin and ancient
history are as mysterious as that
OF the Zulus in Southern Africa. In
appearance the Fullah man is a
handsome type Of human being
They are tall people. beautifully
formed as regards to proportion
and carriage OF the body, comparable
sometimes to the much-quoted
Greek statue. The hair is not by any