STRANGE CUSTOMS OF SAVAGE RULERS. 291 



tinent. Black is the almost universal color of their hair. In old 

 age it becomes white; but according to Walker there are cases 

 amon'g the Negroes of the Gaboon in which red hair, red eyebrows 

 and eyes are not imcommon, and Schweinfurth speaks of Monbut- 

 toos with ashy fair hair, and skin much fairer than that of their 

 fellow-tribesmen. 



It may also be mentioned that individuals with reddish hair are 

 by no means rarely seen among the mountaineers of the Atlas. 

 Whiskers are rare, though not unknown, and long beards are said 

 to be found among Niam-niam, and among the papers left by Miani, 

 the unfortunate Italian traveler, there is a notice of a man with a 

 beard half as long as his own, which, Dr. Schweinfurth remarks, 

 was of "a remarkable length." The color of the Negro's skin 

 passes through every gradation from ebony black to the copper 

 color. 



