638 BANTU NEGEOES 



the Bantu, though the Bantu race — if there he any such racial distinction 

 — is probably composed of a West African stock that has been modified 

 and slightlv improved (in some cases) by ancient Hamitic intermixture. 

 Baganda of the West African kind are tall, loose-limbed, muscular people,, 

 and this tvpe is well represented by the present Katikko, or prime 

 minister. 3Ien of this description are often met with over six feet in 

 height, though somewhat clumsily built, and entirely lacking the grace 

 and suppleness of the Hiraa. The third element in the composition of 

 this population is the Gala herdsman from the north and north-east. 



Portions of the modern Kingdom of Uganda belonged to Unyoro and 

 to an Hamitic aristocracy down to within four years ago ; but, according 

 to tradition, nearly all the present Kingdom of Uganda, except some 

 districts actually bordering the Victoria Nyanza,* were at one time part 

 of the Hima kingdoms founded in Ankole, Toro, and Unyoro. Ne\'er- 

 theless, it would seem as though the districts bordering on the lake shore, 

 which are characterised by a good deal of marsh and very rich forest, and 

 are consequently somewhat unhealthy to the European and the Hamite, 

 were never occupied by the Bahima. Eepresentatives of this race,, 

 however, have affected the physical aspect of the people of Uganda by 

 their introduction into the country as herdsmen, and by the fact that it 

 has been the constant practice of kings and chiefs to obtain beautiful 

 Hima girls as their wives or concubines. Consequently, a few pure- 

 blooded Bahima and a great many half-castes between the Hima and the 

 Negro are to he met with at the present day in Uganda, while not a few 

 individuals amongst the more or less pure negroes bear testimony in their 

 greater refinement of features to the intermingling of the Gala with the 

 Muganda. 



Measurements of a few Baganda are given in the tables of anthropo- 

 metrical observations. The average of twenty measurements of men and 

 twenty of women taken by 'Six. J. F. Cunningham give the average 

 man's height as 5 feet 4i inches ; chest measurement, 33^ inches ; 

 length of foot, 10 inches; measurement round the neck, 13|- inches- 

 and round the nates, 35-i- inches. The average height of the women 

 was 5 feet 1^ inches. Round the chest they measui-ed 32^ inches. 

 The length of the foot was 9^ inches ; the measurement round the 

 neck, 11 J inches; and round the nates, 35 inches. The expression of 

 the features in the negro Baganda is mild and agreeable. A good deal of 

 hair grows on the men's faces, especially in the form of whiskers. The 

 physiognomy of the average ]\Iuganda is thoroughly negro, and the skin 

 is usually very black, except where there has been distinct intermixture 



* The Sese Archipelago and the Bukerebe Islands were both at one time under 

 Hima domination. 



