184 



EGYPTIANS AND SHEMITES. 



influences which have transformed into negroes the whites who 

 emigrated, some thousands of years ago, from Western Asia into 

 Africa. 



The Egyptians establish, very clearly, the transition between the 

 Shemites and the population of Nubia and Ethiopia. With the latter 



the skin is black or of a deep bronze ; but the form, the features, the 

 hair, approach much more nearly the Caucasian than the Negro type. 

 The Nubian women especially exhibit a grace and dignity of move- 

 ment which reveal the nobleness of their origin. " It is in these far 

 lands," says Tre'maux, "we meet with the modern Rebecca, attired 

 with the antique Biblical simplicity, and carrying the water vessel on 



