196 NATURAL HISTORY OF 



the Astatic stems, the Laubes, dwelling in the Jaloff country, in 

 western Africa, though of the Zingara race, are remarkably 

 ugly and diminutive, probably because they are unmixed even 

 with the Negro tribes around them. In one characteristic they 

 all unite, namely, to be, by predilection, wanderers without 

 a home ; not graziers nor cattle-dealers, but tinkers and pilfer- 

 ers. Another outcast race, in Central Africa, are the Cumbrie 

 Blacks, whose origin is still less known. Though they are 

 considered to be genuine Negroes, they are not permitted to 

 have a national existence, but are treated as slaves by all the 

 other tribes in Yaouri and Engarski. This fact is sufficient (o 

 prove them of a distinct origin, and their present character to 

 be superinduced by the lust and lawlessness of conquest and 

 oppression. 



The Guanches, perhaps identical with the ancient inhabi- 

 tants of Fernando Po, both sallow nations ; the first latterly, the 

 second not yet extinct, appear on the skirts of Africa, as rem- 

 nants of a race of tenants of the soil, before the expansion of 

 the Negroes. 



The cannibal Ompizee of Madagascar, or copper-colored sav- 

 ages, who fed upon each other till they are nearly or perhaps 

 now entirely destroyed, may have belonged to the same stock, 

 for they have no national affinities with any other people of the 

 island. We may mention here the Benderwars, a Joand tribe 

 on the Nerbudda, who devour their aged and sick in honor of 

 Kali ; the Ogres or Gholes of Bajahstan, known by the name 

 of Rakshassas, Pisachas, or Bhutas, Aghori, Mardikohrs, &c, 

 feeders on human carrion, whose habits are already mentioned 

 by Ctesias, and are still not entirely extinct. Other tribes 

 there are, equally aberrant, almost as degraded in mind and 

 form, but caused by the wretched conditions of their existence, 

 or by an apathy of character, which no force of example or 

 change of circumstances seems to affect ; such are the Samang 

 Dwarfs of the Malayan mountains, and the black Inagta of the 

 island of Lasso, whose stature seldom exceeds four feet eight 



