340 
REPOKT UPON PHYSICAIi (’HAKA(’TE1^S OF NILOTIC NEGROID TRIBES 
Baris 
Dinkas 
B A K IS 
These constitute anotlier tribe of Nilotic negroes, of whom Schweinfurth states that, 
in their stature, they might rival the Patagonians. The measurements of four individuals 
are available, and they were obtained at Melut. Of this tribe, Baker' states that “ the 
men are well grown -the negro type of thick lips and flat nose is wanting, the features 
are good, and the woolly hair alone denotes the trace of negro blood.” 
The hair was short, s])arse, and curly, or, occasionally, entirely absent. The average 
stature was 174-1 cm., showing a height rather less than that of the Shilluks and 
consideraldy less than that of the 1 )inkas and some other tribes, .\nalysing the various parts, 
segments of the total height, the thigh and leg together measure, on an average, 89 cm., 
or rather more than half the length of tlie body, while the length of the upper arm 
and forearm was 64-4 cm. The head length was, on an average, 190, and the cephalic 
index was as high as 78-4, They are, therefore, distinctly mesaticephalic. The face also is 
fairly wide in comparison with its length. The nasal index was 9-5, while the amount 
of projection of the upper jaw, estimated by the gnathic index, was very considerable, 
although in this respect comparatively little variation was noticed among the whole of the 
tribes who were measured, the index varying from lOfi-G in the case of the Nuers to 109, 
which is the index found among the Baris, and the same figure is also obtained on the 
average in the Fertits, the Buruus, and the Nyam-nyams. The teeth were complete 
and perfect in every case except one. 
The Baris inhabit a wide stretch of country on either side of the Nile, south-west of 
the Dinka country, and with Gondokoro as a centre. 
Sir Harry .lohnston gives measurements of one individual, which, on the whole, tally 
well with these averages. 
The nose is not usually so wide as Sir Harry Johnston’s figures indicate, and is 
narrower relatively to its height than in several other tribes. 
Dinkas 
Ten individuals were measured at Deutemma, and a very complete set of figures was 
obtained (^ee Table III.) by measuring sixty individuals very completely at Barboi, 
Ilenk, Melut, Wantan, Kwatcli, etc. A number of also are appended 
showing characteristic features of this tribe. 
The Dinkas are a very large tribe inhabiting the right bank of the Nile opposite to the 
Shilluks, and between these tribes there appears to be constant warfare. Of them 
Schweinfurth states that “ individual tribes among them stand pre-eminent in the scale of the 
human race, but the majority of the western branch of this nation rarely exceeds a middle 
height.” Of twenty-six representatives measured by him the average height was practically 
5 ft. 9 in., while among the sixty individuals whose measurements are averaged here the 
stature was as much as 180-1 cm., i.e. 5 ft. 11 in. The Dinkas must be reckoned 
among the darkest of races, but the deep black of their complexion gives place to a 
manifest tint of brown when the ashes are washed off with which they delight in rubbing 
themselves. The hair of the Dinka is nearly always very meagre ; it is generally closely 
shorn, except at the crown, where a tuft is left. The helmet-shaped combs of the Shilluks 
are never seen, but tufts of woolly locks are much in the fashion. The Dinkas live in a 
veritable iron age — that is to say, they live in an age in which iron is still of high value --but 
Baker, “Albert Nyauzii.” 
