286 



NOllTH-EAST AFEICA. 



language spoken by the Iladendoas, tlic Bishârin, and lialf of the Beni- Amers, is 

 " ]Jcdouin " (Bedawieli, or Bejavi), which however, in spite of its name, is not an 

 Arabic dialect, ialthough in many respects connected with the Semitic group of 

 languages. 



The Bcjas, taken as a whole, and apart from the local varieties, are one of the 

 African tribes most distinguished by their handsome features and elegant forms. 

 The children are as a rule extremely pretty and vivacious, and young women are 

 frequently met amongst them whose regular features and haughty carriage make 



Shukuiueh Beja. 



^t^^^^^^"" 



them perfect models of physical beauty. In the families of some of the Beni- 

 Amer chiefs, who have slaves to prepare their meals, which are more choice than 

 those of the ordinary nomads, stoutness is by no means rare. The complexion of 

 the nobles is also much lighter than that of the people. Nearly all the Bejas are 

 very swift runners, which they attribute to their frugal diet, consisting entirely of 

 milk and farinaceous aliments. Their arms are very long in proportion to the 

 rest of the body. Explorers are struck with the similarity of type between the 

 Bejas, the Afars, the Ilm-Ormas, and even the Bantus of Southern Africa. In 

 spite of their pretension to the title of Arabs, several of the Beja tribes have 

 preserved the customs of the Negro populations, as regards costume and the 



