278 VARIETIES OF THE HUMAN SPECIES xvm 



(leptorhine) ; jaws orthognathous ; teeth small (microdont) ; 

 pelvis broad (pelvic index of male 80); forearm short 

 relatively to humerus (humero-radial index 74). 



In endeavouring further to divide up into minor groups 

 the numerous and variously modified individuals which cluster 

 around one or other of these great types a process quite 

 necessary for many practical or descriptive purposes the 

 distinctions afforded by the study of physical characters are 

 often so slight that it becomes necessary to take other con- 

 siderations into account, among which geographical distribution 

 and language hold an important place. 



I. The Ethiopian or Negroid races may be primarily divided 

 as follows : 



A. African or typical Negroes] inhabitants of all the 

 central portion of the African continent, from the Atlantic on 

 the west to the Indian Ocean on the east, greatly mixed all 

 along their northern frontier with Hamitic and Semitic 

 Melanochroi, a mixture which, taking place in various pro- 

 portions and under varied conditions, has given rise to many 

 of the numerous races and tribes inhabiting the Soudan. 



A branch of the African Negroes are the Bantu dis- 

 tinguished chiefly, if not entirely, by the structure of their 

 language. Physically indistinguishable from the other negroes 

 where they come in contact in the equatorial regions of Africa, 

 the Southern Bantu, or Kaffirs, as they are generally called, 

 show a marked modification of type, being lighter in colour, 

 having a larger cranial capacity, less marked prognathism, and 

 smaller teeth. Some of these changes may possibly be due to 

 crossing with the next race. 



B. The Hottentots and Bushmen form a very distinct 

 modification of the Negro race. They formerly inhabited a 

 much larger district than at present ; but, encroached upon by 

 the Bantu from the north and the Dutch and English from the 

 south, they are now greatly diminished, and indeed threatened 

 with extinction. The Hottentots especially are much mixed 

 with other races, and under the influence of a civilisation 

 which has done little to improve their moral condition they 

 have lost most of their distinctive peculiarities. When pure- 

 bred they are of moderate stature, have a yellowish -brown 



