200 



PHYSICAL HISTORY OF MAN. 



than their brethren on the north; but they agree in their dialects ; 

 which, according to Mr. Hale, form a subdivision of the same general 

 lano^uao^e. 



A fortnight previous to our arrival, some families of the Fingo 

 tribe were encamped in the vicinity of Cape Town ; but on visiting 

 the spot designated, I found that they had departed. The owner of 

 a neighbouring plantation stated, that "a large body of Fingoes once 

 remained there for several weeks, and formed a regular town or 

 ' kraal.' Their hair was exactly like that of the Negro ; but the 

 complexion varied, in some individuals being nearly as light as that 

 of the Hottentot, and in others quite black. The men marry as 

 many wives as possible, as by this means, they secure at all times 

 a support." 



WESTERN AFRICA. 



I have seen aboriginal Negroes of Western Africa, only at Rio Ja- 

 neiro; where I enjoyed the advantage of being present during many 

 of Mr. Hale's examinations, and of thus learning the precise place of 

 origin of the different individuals. They mostly belonged to the 

 countries south of the Equator, to tribes speaking dialects " of the 

 Congo-Makuan subdivision of the general language ; such as the 

 Benguela, Kasangi, and Congo; the Kambinda, from the Congo 

 River; and the Mundjola, from the country back of Loango." 



The Negroes from the coast north of the Equator, or from Guinea, 

 had been brought principally from Mina; a port in the Ashantee coun- 

 try. They as a class, and particularly individuals from the far Inte- 

 rior, were much dreaded by the planters. 1 saw one man who spoke 

 a little Arabic: and "in the instance of a former insurrection, the 

 slaves were said to have corresponded in this language." For a more 

 particular account of the various Negro tribes furnishing the slaves 

 brought to Rio Janeiro, I must refer to the Narrative. 



I would remark, however, in reference to the condition of Western 

 Africa ; that the descriptions I have read, exhibit on the part of the 

 natives, no deficiency in shrewdness and natural good sense ; accom- 

 panied however by a grossncss of manners, not found in those parts 

 of the world which I have visited. 



