SECT. I.] MODE OF LIFE. 65 



have stern angular features, and staring grey or bluish eyes. 

 There exist also linguistic differences between the two castes 

 that of the labourers approaches more the Persian dialect than 

 that of the warriors ; hence, a diversity of stock is not impro- 

 bable. 1 Among the Bechuanas of Littaku, the higher ranks 

 are distinguished by a clearer complexion, higher stature, and 

 European features. 2 Among the Chinese who have for several 

 generations lived in affluence, the peculiarities of the Mongolian 

 race grow fainter and the features become nobler. 3 The free 

 Indians of Ecuador are mostly better made and have finer 

 features and a lighter colour than those employed by the 

 whites as shepherds and agricultural labourers. The former 

 are, in many parts, so white and have such good features, that 

 they seem only by their dress to differ from the Europeans. 4 



How much the necessity of adopting different habits of life 

 influences the development of internal and external character- 

 istics, is shown by the inhabitants of Wojjerat in the south-east 

 of Tigre. They are said to be the descendents of Portuguese 

 soldiers, who settled there in the sixteenth century. Combes 

 and Tamisier 5 doubt it, but Poncet in his travels, in 1698, 

 says of them, they are easily known, and they were the so- 

 called white Abyssinians. 6 In the temperate climate of this 

 mountain region, surrounded by many savage nations, and 

 forced by them to many wars in order to preserve their in- 

 dependence, they have become a proud athletic race, more 

 powerful than the majority of the aborigines. They form, in 

 this respect, a contrast to the Portuguese descended from 

 merchants, who, in the East Indies, in unhealthy regions, have 

 by a dissipated life, become weaker even than the natives of 

 these parts. 7 The Fulahs in the south of Bornou, surrounded 

 by natives who are less civilized, are still herdsmen, without 

 that desire for conquest and reform which distinguishes the 



1 Kitter, " Erdk.," ix, 570. 



2 Philip, " Researches in South Africa," ii, 128, 1828. 



3 Epp, " Schilderungen, axis Hollandisch-Indien," p. 168, 1852. 



4 Villavicencio, " Geogr. de la rep. del Ecuador," p. 167, Nev/ York, 1858. 



5 " Voy. en Abyss.," iv, p. 319. 



6 " Allerhand lehrreiche briefe v. d. mission de ges. Jesu ad. d. neue Welt- 

 Bot.," iii, p. 100, Augsburg, 1726. 



' Salt, " Voyage to Abyssinia," p. 274. 



