THE LAST FRONTIER 



invariably well built. Of most tribes the physical 

 development is remarkably strong and graceful; and 

 a great many of the women will display a rounded, 

 firm, high-breasted physique in marked contrast to 

 the blacks of the lowlands. Of the different tribes 

 possibly the Kikuyus are apt to count the most 

 weakly and spindly examples : though some of these 

 people, perhaps a majority, are well made. 



Furthermore, the native differentiates himself 

 still further in impression from our negro in his car- 

 riage and the mental attitude that lies behind it. 

 Our people are trying to pattern themselves on white 

 men, and succeed in giving a more or less shambling 

 imitation thereof. The native has standards, ideas, 

 and ideals that perfectly satisfy him, and that an- 

 tedated the white man's coming by thousands of 

 years. The consciousness of this reflects itself in 

 his outward bearing. He does not shuffle; he is not 

 either obsequious or impudent. Even when he ac- 

 knowledges the white man's divinity and pays it 

 appropriate respect, he does not lose the poise of his 

 own well-worked-out attitude toward life and toward 

 himself. 



We are fond of calling these people primitive. 

 In the world's standard of measurement they are 

 primitive, very primitive indeed. But ordinarily 

 by that term, we mean also undeveloped, embryonic 



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