120 NATURAL HISTORY. 



to the colour, and the features of the visage of the 

 Ethiopians. Marmot says, that the Ethiopians are 

 absolutely black, that their visage is large, and their 

 nose flat ; and in this description the Dutch travellers 

 agree with him. The truth, however, is, that they 

 differ from the Nubians, both in colour and in features. 

 The skin of the Ethiopians is brown, or olive-coloured, 

 like that of the southern Arabians, from whom, it is 

 probable, they derive their origin. In stature thev 

 are tall : the features of their countenance arc strong- 

 ly marked : their eyes are large and beautiful : their 

 nose is well-proportioned : their lips are thin ; and 

 their teeth are white. Of the inhabitants of Nubia, on 

 the contrary, the nose is flat, the lips are thick ami 

 prominent, and the countenance is exceeding black. 

 These Nubians, as well as the Barberins, their western 

 neighbours, are a species of Negroes not unlike those 

 of Senegal. 



The Ethiopians are a people between the extremes 

 of barbarism and of civilization. Their garments are 

 of cotton, though those of the more opulent are of silk. 

 Their houses are low, and of a bad construction. 

 Their lands, too, are wretchedly neglected. These 

 circumstances are owing to the behaviour of their no- 

 bles, who despise the tradesmen and the common peo- 

 ple. Each of these classes, however, lives separate 

 from the other, and has its own villages or hamlets. 

 Unprovided with salt at home, they purchase it from 

 abroad for its weight in gold. So fond are they of 

 raw meat, that, at their feasts, the second course, 

 which is considered as the most delicate, consists of 

 it entirely. Though they have vines they have no 

 wine ; and their usual beverage is a sour composition- 

 Made with tamarinds. They use horses for the pur- 



