THE PIGMIES. 41 



also be brought forward in consequence of which the vertebral 

 column assumes the shape of an S causing the Akkas to look, so to 

 saddle-backed. ( 1 ) 



It is obvious, however, that this abnormal development of the 

 abdomen cannot be taken as a true racial characteristic of this 

 people, but is no doubt brought on by their mode of living and 

 nature of the food, and perhaps also by the general conditions of 

 habitat. This we can infer from the personal experience of Count 

 Mestscalchi, who noticed that, after a few weeks of wholesome 

 and regular diet, " the excessive expansion of the abdomen had 

 disappeared and the spine had resumed its normal state." ( 2 ) 

 The same change has occurred with regard to Saida. ( 3 ) 



In order to complete the physical description of these Akkas, I need 

 say a few words about their limbs. The upper ones are long, and 

 the hands very delicately shaped. ( 4 ) The lower limbs are short 

 as compared with the bust and have a slight inward bend. The 

 feet also are turned in, but more so than with other Africans. ( 3 ) 



( i ) This conformation has been the cause of a singular mistake and of a 

 good deal of discussion. In a communication to the Egyptian Institute 

 ( 5th December, 1873 ), Schweinfueth had compared this bend of the spine 

 to a C. The eminent traveller evidently alluded to the lower portion of the 

 back and meant to say that the concavity of the C was turned backwards. 

 But, acting under the influence of preconceived ideas, and in the hopes of disco- 

 vering the missing link, which has been the subject of so much active search 

 for so long, some venturesome minds supposed that the C represented the shape 

 of the whole back, that the concavity was turned forward, and that, conse- 

 quently, the Akkas bore, in that respect, a great resemblance to anthropo- 

 morphous monkeys. Before even having seen their photographs, I had com- 

 batted. at the Anthropological Society and elsewhere ( loc. cit., p. 1519 ) this 

 interpretation, which is perfectly incompatible with the mode of locomotion 

 in man and with the agility universally attributed to the Akkas. Beoca (loc. 



I cit., p. 284) and also MM. Mantegazza and Zannetti ( loc. cit., p. 148 ) 

 have, later on, given the same arguments in support of our common opinion , 

 which is entirely justified by the present state of knowledge on the subject. 

 (*) Mixiscalchi, loc. cit., p. 299. 

 ( a ) Giglioli, loc. cit., p. 410. 

 (*) Schweinfueth, loc. cit., p. 124. The photographs of Tebo and 

 CHAIEALLAH do not justify this compliment, any more than the cast made of 

 TEBO. 

 r _ 



