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ABYSSINIAN RACE. 



Abyssinian Women. 



A Native of Abyssinia. 



" I have seen," says Dr. Pickering, " but few genuine Abyssinians, and these few have not presented 

 among themselves a very uniform personal appearance. In a general way the race may be said to possess 

 European features in combination with crisped er frizzled hair. The complexion, however, though it is 

 often very light, does not appear ever to become florid. 



" The race seems to be confined to the table-lands of Abyssinia, and to its prolongation in a mountainous 

 tract that extends towards the interior of the continent ; but even within these limits there appears to be 

 a large infusion of Ethiopians belonging to the Galla tribes. The Abyssinians having been converted 

 during the early ages of Christianity, continue to make pilgrimages to Jerusalem ; but otherwise, their pre- 

 sence in foreign countries is for the most part, involuntary. 



" My first interview with Abyssinians took place at Singapore ; where, on entering one of the principal 

 shops, I was greatly surprised to find its three occupants differing in physical race from all the men I had 

 previously met with. The wonder increased oiuperceiving their superiority in refinement and intelligence 

 over the other Orientals around ; and that although so unlike, they did not on these points, seem to fall 

 below Europeans. 



" The hair was much alike in all three, and was crisped and fine, neither coarse enough nor in sufficient 

 quantity to form a resisting mass. The beard of one individual was in pellets, absolutely like the close 

 wool of the Negro; but the prominence of nose, greater even than usually occurs in the white race, bore 

 sufficient tcBtimony to his purity of descent. The second individual had the face very much elongated, but 

 the nose was not particularly prominent. The third individual had a straighter beard, which was black 

 ■nd grey in regular stripes. The complexion was the same in all three, and though very light, was by no 

 means of a sickly hue ; and, indeed, these persons might readily have been passed in the street as belonging 

 ' - the white race. 



