HADENDOWA ARABS' SPECIAL PRIDE. 23 



of stone, we were informed that two Mussulmans 

 were buried there, and that God had killed them. 

 On another occasion, when a gazelle was shot dead, 

 one of them exclaimed that if a man were to die that 

 way he would be sure to go to heaven. These men L~ 

 belong to the Hadendowa Arabs, who occupy a large 

 tract of country between the coast and Kassala. They 

 are fine-looking well set-up fellows of good stature, with 

 well-formed heads and regular features, though their 

 skins are nearly black. Their hair is their great pride, 

 and it certainly is a marvel of artistic skill. A parting 

 being made round the head on a line with the eyes, and 

 the temples being like the face shaven, the crown of the 

 head is covered with a thick mass of short curly black 

 hair, that looks exactly like a mop. Below the parting, 

 the hair is allowed to grow to considerable length, and 

 is generally kept twisted into innumerable plaits ; and 

 even then, owing to its thickness, forms a great mass ; but 

 when undone on certain occasions it looks like a huge 

 chignon, and must certainly prove an immense protection 

 against the direct heat of the sun on their necks. Though 

 so thick, their hair is of such fine quality that it feels 

 almost like silk. In this mass is always kept their 

 representative of brush and comb, which consists of a 

 thin long piece of hard wood or bone, and it is frequently 

 in use as a disturber of the peace of the very numerous 

 occupants that are supposed to dwell in Arab heads. 



