CHAPTER XII. 



THEABYSSINIANRACE. 



I HAVE seen but few genuine Abyssinians, and these few have not 

 presented among themselves a very uniform personal appearance. 

 In a general way, the race may be said to possess European features 

 in combination with crisped or frizzled hair. The complexion, how- 

 ever, though it is often very light, does not appear ever to become 

 florid. 



The race seems to be confined to the table-land of Abyssinia, and 

 to its prolongation in a mountainous tract that extends towards the 

 interior of the continent ; but even within these limits, there appears 

 to be a large infusion of Ethiopians, belonging to the Galla tribes. 

 The Abyssinians, having been converted during the early ages of 

 Christianity, continue to make pilgrimages to Jerusalem ; but other- 

 wise, their presence in foreign countries, is for the most part involun- 

 tary. 



My first interview with Abyssinians, took place at Singapore ; 

 where, on entering one of the principal shops, I was greatly sur- 

 prised to find its three occupants differing in physical race from all 

 the men I had previously met with. The wonder increased, on per- 

 ceiving their superiority in refinement and intelligence over the other 

 Orientals around; and that although so unlike, they did not, on these 

 points, seem to fall below Europeans. 



The hair was much alike in all three, and was crisped and fine ; 

 neither coarse enough, nor in sufficient quantity, to form a resisting 

 mass. The beard of one individual, was in pellets, absolutely like 

 the close wool of the Negro ; but the prominence of nose, greater 

 even than usually occurs in the White race, bore sufficient testimony 

 to his purity of descent. The second individual, had the face very 



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