HEAD DRESSES OF EAST AFRICAN KEGROER. 



CHAPTER XLI. 



THE AFRICAN NEGROES. 



Causes of the Inferiority of Negro Civilisation — Natural Capabilities of the Negro 

 — Geographical Formation of Africa — Its Political Condition — Physical Con- 

 formation of the Negro — Fetishism — The Eain-Doctor— The Medicine-Man — 

 Eeligious Observances — Gift-Oiferings — Human Sacrifices — Ornaments — The 

 Pelele — The Bonnians — Their Barbarous Condition — The Town of OkoUoma — 

 Negroes of the Lake Eegions — The Iwanza — Slavery — A Miserable Group. 



WITH the exception of the narrow strip of territory ferti- 

 lized by the annual inundations of the Mle, where 

 stately pyramids and the ruins of vast palaces and temples pro- 

 claim the ancient glories of Egypt; or of the coast-lands of 

 the Mediterranean, where once Carthage reigned and Utica 

 flourished, Africa has ever been a region without influence 

 on the progressive march of mankind. From the vast and 

 still partly unknown countries inhabited by the Negro or the 

 Kaffer no gleam of genius has eyer shone forth to enlighten 

 the world ; no invention has ever proceeded for the benefit of 

 the human race ; no individual has ever risen to eminence in 

 science or in art ; but all, from generation to generation, has 



