THE ABYSSINIAN RACE. 



223 



quiring disposition than the Arabs, especially as they manifested some 

 desire to be informed about foreign countries. I learned subsequently, 

 that one of the large ships trading between Mocha and India, was 

 owned by Abyssinians. 



At Mocha also, I became acquainted with a young Abyssinian, 

 whose feminine amiability plainly told his history : and who ex- 

 pressed much gratitude for some slight medical assistance. He had 

 been purchased at a high price ; and the Arabs stated, that " he was 

 born a Christian, but his master had educated him and had made 

 him Muslim;" a benefit which no one at Mocha thinks of question- 

 ing. I was further informed, that eunuchs are exclusively imported 

 from the opposite continent; and that all attempts to perform this 

 operation in Southern Arabia, had been attended with a fatal result. 

 All the eunuchs I have ever met with, have belonged either to the 

 Abyssinian or to the Ethiopian race; both these races indeed, being 

 often combined in the same individual. 



The custom of the country, precluded me from seeing any of the 

 ' red Abyssinian' slave-women, who are so highly prized in Arabia ; 

 but I thought I could distinguish in many of the Southern Arabs, the 

 marks of this mixed descent. 



Among the Somali seen at Mocha, one woman differed strikingly 

 from her companions in her personal appearance, in her light com- 

 plexion, and in the style of countenance. I supposed at the time 

 that she was an Abyssinian, but I did not learn her history. 



I will here insert the opinions of two travellers in Abyssinia, com- 

 municated to me orally. Mr. Rochon, regarded the Galla as differing 

 physically from the Abyssinians; and spoke of the latter, as being "a 

 fine set of people, men absolutely such as ourselves, and capable of 

 doing anything that we can do; except only, that they have been 

 secluded from the remainder of the world." 



Mr. Isenberg, whom I saw at Bombay, thought that " under the 

 same advantages, Abyssinia might rise to an equality with a Euro- 

 pean nation. In times of peace, there is tolerable security for person 

 and property; and the present condition of Abyssinia, is not very un- 

 like that of a European nation when distracted with civil war." 



The Abyssinian, is the third physical race, which will enter into 

 the question of the primitive Egyptians. The profile of the young 



