AFRICAN DIALECTS. 367 



instance, among the tribes of the humid central basin, appear of 

 a sickly sallow hue when compared with the aboriginal inhabit- 

 ants ; the Batoka also, who lived in an elevated region, are, when 

 seen in company with the Batoka of the rivers, so much lighter in 

 color, they might be taken for another tribe ; but their language, 

 and the very marked custom of knocking out the upper front teeth, 

 leave no room for doubt that they are one people. 



Apart from the influences of elevation, heat, humidity, and 

 degradation, I have imagined that the lighter and darker colors 

 observed in the native population run in five longitudinal bands 

 along the southern portion of the continent. Those on the sea- 

 board of both the east and west are very dark ; then two bands 

 of lighter color lie about three hundred miles from each coast, 

 of which the westerly one, bending round, embraces the Kala- 

 hari Desert and Bechuana countries ; and then the central basin 

 is very dark again. This opinion is not given with any de- 

 gree of positiveness. It is stated just as it struck my mind in 

 passing across the country, and if incorrect, it is singular that 

 the dialects spoken by the different tribes have arranged them- 

 selves in a fashion which seems to indicate migration along the 

 lines of color. The dialects spoken in the extreme south, 

 whether Hottentot or Caffre, bear a close affinity to those of 

 the tribes living immediately on their northern borders ; one 

 glides into the other, and their affinities are so easily detected 

 that they are at once recognized to be cognate. If the dialects 

 of extreme points are compared, as that of the Caffres and the 

 tribes near the equator, it is more difficult to recognize the fact, 

 which is really the case, that all the dialects belong to but two 

 families of languages. Examination of the roots of the words 

 of the dialects, arranged in geographical order, shows that they 

 merge into each other, and there is not nearly so much differ- 

 ence between the extremes of east and west as between those of 

 north and south, the dialect spoken at Tete resembling closely 

 that in Angola. 



Having, on the afore-mentioned date, reached the village of 

 Njambi, one of the chiefs of the Chiboque, we intended to pass a 

 quiet Sunday ; and our provisions being quite spent, I ordered a 

 tired riding-ox to be slaughtered. As we wished to be on good 

 terms with all, we sent the hump and ribs to Njambi, with the 



