212 HISTORY OY THE PROTECTORATE TERRITORIES 



the north-east. As far as any remembrance of their origin exists amongst 

 the elders of the Bahima, they repeat a vague tradition to the effect that 

 their far-off ancestors once were driven from their original country by a 

 severe famine, and on subsequent occasions by internecine wars. They 

 advanced by degrees to the Lango or Bnkedi country and the east bank of 

 the Victoria Nile. Here they halted for a long time ; then they appear to 

 have crossed the Nile and entered Unyoro, first in small, and by degrees in 

 large, numbers. At the present time there is no trace of the pure-blooded 

 Bahima to he found north and east of the A'ictoria Nile, but the Latuka, 

 Turkana, Suk, Nandi, and Masai peoples all bear traces of having mingled in 

 times i^ast to a greater or less degree with a people of Gala stock, from 

 whom they borrowed words for numerals, and with whom they interbred. 

 These Bahima were great herdsmen. They brought with them from their 

 northern home a breed of cattle of their own. These cattle, remarkable for 

 their large size, straight backs, and enormous horns, agree remarkably 

 closely with the long-horned cattle depicted in the Egyptian frescoes. 



The Bahima, acccording to native legends, appear to have founded 

 dynasties of kings in Unyoro, Uganda, Ankole, Karagwe, and other countries 

 to the south. They were possibly the means also by which musical 

 instruments of Egyptian shapes, and perhaps other Egyptian " notions," 

 were introduced into the countries round about Uganda. Personally, I 

 believe that this invasion of the Hamite was not confined to the countries 

 of the Uganda Protectorate and of adjoining German East Africa only. 

 I think the Hamite from these legions of the Upper Nile spread his 

 blood due west, affecting and improving the bodily structure and cultiu*e 

 of many of the Negro stocks found there at the present day, such as 

 the Makarka, or Nyam-Nyam. This western invasion of Hamitic blood 

 coming from Egypt may have even penetrated as far as the countries 

 between tht^ Benue and the Cross Kiver.* 



Another considerable invasion of Caucasian blood came straight from the 

 western Sahaia Desert to Senegal and the countries in the basin of the 

 Niger. In Senegambia arose that half-breed between the Lvbian and 

 the Negro, the celebrated Fulah stock; and the Fulahs, or Fulbe, spread 

 by conquest almost to Central Africa, to the vicinity of Lake Chad, and to 

 the regions at the back of the Cameroons, bringing a counter-strain of 

 Caucasian blood into regions which were just touched by the infiltration 

 from the Upper Nile. Then, again, one seems to trace this "Hamitic'' 

 improvement of the Negro physiognomy down the east and west coasts of 

 Tanganyika. On the west coast of that lake and in Manyema, though the 

 people may have perfectly black skins and woolly hair, they often exhibit thin 

 lips, a straight nose, and a Euro})ean cast of features. The Zulu tribes who 



* Where I have seen very Haniitic-looking types. 



