198 
SOUTHERN AFEICA. 
latitude. They are, without comparison, the 
most interesting of the South African tribes. 
The traces of their early history in this con- 
tinent are indistinct ; and although tradition has 
merely taught them to point to the Xorth-east, 
and say that their " umJculumkula" (God) came 
from there ; yet the better confirmation of their 
origin is still existing in their continued and 
unwavering obedience to the usages of their 
forefathers. That origin, in common with 
many of the wandering tribes of Arabia, is, 
without doubt, derived from Ishmael the son of 
Abraham. 
The twelve sons of Ishmael were the princes, 
or heads, of as many different families, and their 
descendants occupied a tract of country, extend- 
ing from Havilah on the Euphrates, (which 
seems to have been a little below its junction 
with the Tigris,) to the wilderness of Shur, 
which forms a part of the isthmus of Suez.* 
In the progress of time, the several tribes of 
Ishmael' s descendants would so increase, as to 
render an extension of country desirable, if not 
absolutely necessary. Accordingly, the more 
Eastern tribes would gradually pass down into 
Arabia ; whilst the extreme Western ones de- 
scended to the Western shore of the Eed Sea, 
whence they gradually spread themselves out 
* Gen. xxv, 18 a 
