TYPES OF THE NUBIAN RACE. 



515 



Nile, in distinction from the Abiacl, or clear Nile. Kirchhoff believes 

 that the race-kindred of these people are to be found among the dark- 

 brown tribes of eastern Egypt and Abyssinia, and the Hamitic branch 

 of the Caucasian race, and maintains that they ought to be considered 

 as a people of some cultivation. They all squatted on their heels 

 when they sat down. It was interesting to notice how, when they 

 sewed, they threw the cloth over the left knee, and held it fast be- 

 tween the first and second toes of their right foot. They spent the 

 day in a round of sleeping, smoking, talking, and strumming upon 

 their five-stringed (otherwise very primitive) guitars, alternating these 

 idle occupations with the important daily business of dressing their 





Mohammed nod Ali (Profile and Front View). (From Photographs.) 



hair. They did not put fresh tallow upon their stately head-dress 

 every day, but they performed punctually for each other the mutual 

 service of arranging the cushion, using the wooden pin a foot long, 

 with which it was fastened, as the instrument. The looking-glass was 

 used industriously, for the inner eyelids could not be painted without 

 it. They cleansed their teeth regularly with a short light stick of the 

 arak-plant, which they had brought with them from home for the 

 purpose. Beyond this they washed themselves but little. Each one 

 carried his "Allah" on his upper arm, a small casket inclosing a text 

 from the Koran as an amulet. Their feet were protected with sandals, 

 while their heads were uncovered, and they wore a small silver ring 

 in the lobe of their right ears, and a chain of colored pearls on 

 their necks. A belt containing the dagger was worn over their white 

 dress, which they knew how to draw around them with considerable 

 artistic grace. 



