THE EEGULATION OF NUMBERS 235 



the races of the Congo Basin, gives a general description of the 

 conditions which corresponds very closely with that just quoted 

 for the Baganda.^ In British Central Africa ' " the time of 

 hunger " comes after the rains, when the last year's corn is 

 eaten, and the new is not yet ripe — about March '.- Of the 

 Kagero of Northern Nigeria we are told that the ' people are 

 naturally more healthy and better conditioned in December, say, 

 than in August ', because towards the end of the year there is 

 plenty of food from the harvest whereas later in the wet season 

 there is usually a scarcity.^ So of the Mandja of the Northern 

 Congo we are told that ' generally by the month of October, the 

 Mandja family has consumed its reserves of food ; thereupon 

 follows want for two months '.* In North America Catlin describes 

 times of scarcity among the Mandans ^ and ira Thurm describes 

 similar conditions in Guiana.^ 



Of the fine development of physical form there is abundant 

 evidence. The inhabitants of Timor Laut are ' handsome- 

 featured fellows, tall, erect, and with splendidly formed bodies '.' 

 One of the earlier travellers, Kotzebue, was very much struck 

 with the physical features of the inhabitants of the Sandwich 

 Islands^ and of Eadeck.^ So, too, in Africa the Akikuyu are 

 ' exceedingly strong, muscular, healthy and well set up '.^° * The 

 Damaras, generally speaking, are an exceedingly fine race of 

 men. Indeed it is by no means unusual to meet with individuals 

 six feet and some inches in height, and symmetrically well 

 proportioned withal. Their features are, besides, good and 

 regular ; and many might serve as perfect models of the human 

 figure.' 11 As in the case of the races of the first group, we are 

 told that formerly these people lived to a great age. ' Under 

 natural conditions the Bantu were a longer hved people than 

 the Europeans.' ^^ Catlin was greatly impressed with the physical 

 fitness of the North American Indians. He never saw ' a more 

 hardy and healthy race of men ', while the women were ' exceed- 

 ingly healthy and robust '.^^ According to Heriot, ' the North 

 Americans are in general robust, and of a healthful temperament, 



' Cureau, loc. cit., p. 252. ^ Werner, loc. cit., p. 181. ' Tremearne, 



J. A. I., vol. xlii, p. 180. '' Gaud, loc. cit., p. 21. ^ Catlin, loc. cit., 



vol. ii, p. 124. « im Thurm, loc. cit., p. 253. ' Forbes, Timor Laut, p. 9. 



« Kotzebue, loc. cit., p, 129. » Ibid., p. 170. " Routledge, Prehistoric 



People, p. 19. " Anderson, Lake Ngami, p. 49. '^ Theal, Yellow- and 



Dark-Skimied People, p. 175. See also Ellenberger, loc. cit., p. 295. " Catlin, 



loc. cit., vol. ii, p. 228. 



