THE NILOTIC FAMILY. 27 



the most motley and barbarous states in existence. Yet the Arab and Nubian 

 lineaments predominate ; and are seen in the oval face, the narrow pointed nose, 

 the long, black hair and delicate limbs ; while the immemorial amalgamation of 

 the Abyssinians with their Negro slaves, imparts to many the thick lips, the flat 

 nose, and even the crisped and woolly hair of the genuine African. The present 

 inhabitants are to the last degree barbarous, cruel and licentious. Even the 

 Christian population is said to partake of the national anarchy, for they are divided 

 into three parties, who are so inimical to each other that they refuse to take the 

 sacrament together. " The Abyssinians," says Gobat, in extenuation, " are liars, 

 as well as the Arabs ; but they yet have a feeling of shame which the Arabs have 

 not." 



Their written language, the Gheez, has some affinity with the Arabic, which 

 may be attributed to the long intercourse of the two nations. 



The ancient intercourse of the Abyssinians with the Egyptians, is proved by 

 the temples and obelisks among the ruins of Axoum, the port of Abyssinia on the 

 Red Sea ; while at Meroe, in the interior, and at other places, are seen some 

 stupendous architectural remains of high antiquity. 



The Ancient Egyptians. — The physical traits of the Egyptians, as derivable 

 from their monuments and mummies, may be embraced in the following 

 summary. 



They appear to have been spare in person, with long limbs and delicate 

 hands and feet. Their heads were formed as in the Hindoo, thus differing from 

 the Caucasian only in being somewhat smaller in proportion to the body, and 

 having a narrower and less elevated forehead. Mr. Madden, who speaks of 

 having examined a great number of heads in the Theban catacombs, says "that 

 the old Egyptian skull is extremely narrow across the forehead, and of an oblong 

 shape anteriorly. I never found one with a broad expanded forehead."* There 

 is a remarkable resemblance among the innumerable heads sculptured in the 

 temples of the Nile ; and one who is accustomed to examine them becomes so 

 familiar with the Egyptian physiognomy, that when other races are introduced, 

 as the Jews and Negroes, the eye can mostly detect them. There is also a 

 singular accordance in conformation between the sculptured heads, and the real 

 ones taken from the Theban catacombs. Two prominent varieties are discernible 

 in each : one of these has the rather low and narrow forehead above mentioned, 

 while the other presents the full development of the Caucasian head. The 



* Trav. in Egypt, &c., II, p. 93. 



