THE LIVING RACES OF MANKIND 



they are fierce, they rob, and 

 they beg. One of their 

 peculiarities makes it very 

 difficult to deal with them 

 they are very ready to take 

 offence. They are, moreover, 

 in constant dread of being 

 subject to servitude, and fear 

 invasion above all things. 

 Side by side with all this, 

 however, many noble virtues 

 must also be placed to the 

 credit of the Tuaregs. Their 

 courage is proverbial. The 

 defence of a guest is with 

 them, as with the Arabs, a 

 positive religion; whilst their 

 steadfastness of character is 

 well known, and their powers 

 of endurance are absolutely 

 indispensable to their very 

 existence. Lastly and here 

 I know what I say is contrary 

 to the generally received 

 opinion the Tuareg is faithful 

 to his promises and hates 

 petty theft. ' Never promise 

 more than half what you can 

 perform 'says a Tuareg proverb, 

 and even in the opinion of 

 their enemies this is no idle 

 boast." 



Physically the Tuaregs 

 are typical Berbers, and re- 

 semble the peoples of Southern 

 Europe. The men are tall 

 and slim, and their complexion 

 is fair until tanned by ex- 

 posure to the sun and sand 

 glare. Blue eyes are not un- 

 common. The women agree 

 in most respects with the 

 men, except in figure, which 



is altered by artificial diet. According to Hourst, the women "are pleasing, sometimes even 

 very pretty. Delicate features, big eyes full of expression, and very long black hair, parted in 

 the middle and plaited together at the back of the head, give them a charming appearance; 

 but they have absolutely no figures they are just one mass of fat; their arms are like the 

 jellies exposed for sale in pork-butchers' shops, and the less said about the rest of their bodies 

 the better." 



The Tuareg dress consists of a tunic of black cotton reaching nearly to the ankles, a 

 pair of baggy trousers, hide sandals, and a black veil which covers the face. As with the 

 Tibbus, the veil is not worn by the women, except that they may put one on as a mark of 



MIXED TYPE, BERBER AND NEGRO RACE, SAHARA. 



