Large nation south Kordofan, usually classed as Nubas, but quite distinct.39 In thirty villages, south and east of Mount Kordofan; said to be of Funj origin. Obeid district, Kordofan; claim descent from the Kunjara of Dar-Fur, where some are still found; all now speak Arabic exclusively. NOTES. 1 "Nubische Grammatik," Einleitung. 2 "Im Gegentheil drängen uns diese Thatsachen zu dem Schlusse hin, dass auf der eine Seite die fulische Sprache in ihrer ersten Anlage, sowie die hamito-semitischen Sprachen, und dann auf der andern das fulische Volk, sowie Hamito-Semiten eines und desselben Ursprungs seien. Aus diesem Grunde nennen wir die Fulen die Ur- oder Proto-Hamiten."-Ein Beitrag zur Kenntniss der Fulischen Sprache (Leipzig, 1884, p. 11). 3 Thus Lieut.-Colonel Stewart, in his otherwise valuable " Report on the Sudán for 1883": "Besides the main division of the people into Arab and Negro, they are again subdivided into a number of tribes and sub-tribes, some sedentery, and others nomad" (p. 8). These sub-tribes are not further specified; but in what follows all are treated either as Arabs or Negroes. 4.66 Nature," April 17, 1884, p. 581. 5 "Grammatica e Vocabolario della lingua Denka," Rome, 1880, p. 231. 6 In Senaar alone the Arabs reckon as many as six gradations between the pure Negro and the Semite: 1. El-Asraf, or yellow; 2. El-Kat Fatalobin, the Abyssinian; 3. El-Akdar, or red; 4. El-Azraq, or blue; 5. El-Ahsdar, or green"; 6. Ahbit, the Nubian. 7 Schweinfurth, " Heart of Africa." 8 Rev. T. Wakefield, in "Proceedings of the Geographical Society, for December, 1882. Lepsius, op. cit., "Einleitung." 10 Schweinfurth, op. cit., ii, p. 93. "The position of the Bogos or Bilín, who occupy a debatable tract at the north-east corner of Abyssinia on the Egyptian frontier, is somewhat doubtful. Leo Reinisch regards their speech as a Gheez dialect ("Die Bilín Sprache," Vienna, 1882); yet he classes them subsequently with the neighbouring Hamite peoples, as will be seen further on. 12 Lieut.-Colonel Stewart's "Report on the Sudán for 1883," p. 8. 13 The term Baqqára, unknown in the Arab national genealogies, has given rise to some misunderstanding. It is not the name of any particular tribe, but an expression applied collectively to all tribes which breed and deal in cattle, in contradistinction to those whose wealth consists in horses and camels. Hence there are Baqqara in many parts of Sudán, although they are chiefly concentrated about the left bank of the White Nile, and further west towards the headstreams of the Bahr-el-Arab (Baqqára-el-Homr). The word is derived from = bagar = an ox. 14 Two volumes only have so far appeared (Berlin, 1879, 1881). The remainder, with rich philological data, are anxiously awaited by students of African ethnology. 15 At Keren in the Bogos country Leo Reinisch tells us that in 1880 he picked up enough of the Kaffa language from three slaves to determine its connection with the Hamitic family. To the same connection he refers the Agaumeder and Khamant of Gondar, and some others on the north frontier of Abyssinia, about whose true affinities some doubt still prevails ("Oesterreichische Monatschr. f. den Orient," March 15, 1884, p. 94). 16" Afilo wurde mir vom Lega-König als ein Negerland bezeichnet, welches von einer Galla-Aristokratie beherrscht wird" (Petermann's Mittheilungen, 1883, v, p. 194). 17 And are no doubt also known by other names. Thus the Wa-Taturu shepherds of U-Kerewé Island in Lake Victoria Nyanza appear to belong to the same connection. They are described by Stanley as "light-coloured, straight, thin-nosed, and thin-lipped," in contrast to their Wa-Kerewé neighbours, "a mixture of the Ethiopic and Negro type." ("Through the Dark Continent," vol. i, p. 251.) 18 That this region was occupied by the Beja from remote times appears evident from Macrizi, whose account of this people in his History of Egypt (end of fourteenth century) is drawn from the Isthakhri (tenth century) and other older records. "Le pays qu' habite ce peuple commence au bourg nommé Kharbah, près duquel est la mine d'émeraudes. Le pays des Bedjas se termine aux premières frontières de l'Abyssinie. Ce peuple habite l'intérieur de la presqu'ile d'Egypte jusqu'aux bords de la mer, du côté qui regarde les îles de Souaken, de Baza (Massáwah), et de Dahlak." (Quatremère's translation, in "Mémoires sur l'Egypte," 1811, ii, p. 135.) 19 "L'Etbaye, pays habité par les Bicharieh" (Paris, 1868). 20 These Ababdeh are very widespread, stretching from Keneh southwards to the Second Cataract at Wadi-Halfa, where they meet the Kensi Nubians on the west, and the Bishari on the east. Their chief tribes, some of which also appear to speak Nubian, are the Nemráb, Gawalieh, Shawáhir (Khawáhil), Abudein, Meleikab, Tokára, and Oshabáb. Russeger ("Reise," ii, Part 3, p. 193) estimates their number at about 40,000, nearly equally distributed between Egypt and Nubia. 21 The Arabic で now generally pronounced j, was originally hard, like the Hebrew, as we see in the geographical term Nejd, by the local tribes still pronounced Negd. Hence Bega Beja. = 23 Λοιπὰ δὲ τὰ πρὸς νότον, Τρογλοδύται, βλέμμυες, καὶ Νοῦβαι καὶ Μεγάβαροι οἱ ὑπὲρ Συήνης Αιθίοπες. (Book 17, § 53.) 23 Ε'ξ ἀριστερῶν δὲ ρύσεως τοῦ Νείλου Νοῦβαι κατοικοῦσιν εν τῇ Λιβύῃ, μέγα Ovos, &c. (Book 17, p. 1117, Oxford ed., 1807.) 24 This is also confirmed by Ptolemy, who (iv, 8) speaks of the Nube as "maxime occidentales Avalitarum." 25 Plural of Berberi, that is, people of Berber, although at present they do not reach so far up the Nile as that town. But during the eighteenth century this place acquired considerable influence as capital of a large Nubian state tributary to the Funj Kings of Senaar. It is still an important station on the Nile just below the Atbara confluence at the point where the river approaches nearest to the Red Sea coast at Suakin. It may here be mentioned that the term Barabra is referred by some authorities, not to the town of Berber, but to the Barabara people, whose name occurs amongst the 113 tribes recorded in the inscription on a gateway of Thutmes, by whom they were reduced about 1700 B.C. This identification seems to some extent confirmed by the generic name Kens applied in the same inscription to many of these "Ethiopian tribes," and still surviving in the form of Kenus (plural of Kensi), the name of the northern division of the Nubian (Barabra) people towards the Egyptian frontier. It is further strengthened by a later inscription of Ramses II in Karnak (1400 B.C.), where mention again occurs of the Beraberata, one of the southern races conquered by him. Hence Brugsch ("Reisebericht aus Egypten," pp. 127 and 155) is inclined to regard the modern "Barabra" as a true ethnical name confused in classic times with the Greek and Roman Barbarus, but which has resumed its historic value since the Moslem conquest. 26 Thus in Sakakini's tabular returns of the average prices of slaves sold in Egypt from 1870 to 1880, all, of whatever provenance, are grouped under two heads "Nubians and " Abyssinians," none being true Nubians or Abyssinians, but either Nubas and other Negroes from Kordofan and the Upper Nile, or else Barea, Basé, Shan-Gallas, and other Negroid peoples from the Abyssinian uplands. According to these returns the latter command the highest prices in the slave market, £20 to £50 for adults, the Nubas fetching only from £18 to £40. 27 The bronze shade is also noticed by Lepsius, op. cit., p. 74: "Bei den Nubiern herrscht eine dunkle Broncefarbe vor, dunkler als die der Habessinier." He adds: "Der alte Negertypus bricht nicht selten wieder ziemlich deutlich durch; namentlich ist das Wollhaar ziemlich haüfig.” 28 All have woolly hair, says Rüppel (“Reisen in Nubien "), pouting thick lips, short flat nose, complexion quite black. Further comment is needless. 29 It is noteworthy, however, that Eutychius of Alexandria (930) includes the "Nubi" among the six kinds of writing, which he tells us in a somewhat doubtful passage were current amongst the Hamitic peoples. 30 For an explanation of this apparent antagonism the reader is referred to the monograph, "On the Ethnology and Philology of the Asiatic Races,” appended to the volume on Asia, by A. H. Keane, in the Stanford Series, 1882, pp. 691, et seq. 31 The "Ethiopian" of some, the "Agazi" of other writers, the latter term denoting peoples of Geez speech. "Alle diese Völker haben einen innern Zusammenhang; sie sind Abyssinier, alte Christen, und bedienen sich des reinsten äthiopischen Idioms, des Tigré" (Munziger, op. cit., p. 73). This use of the term Ethiopian" is very confusing, as it is also, and more properly, employed as the collective name of the eastern division of the Hamitic family. The Himyarites (Abyssinians) are intruders from Arabia; the Hamites are the true autochthones, hence best entitled to the title of "Ethiopian," which by the ancients was applied, although somewhat vaguely, to all the native populations stretching south from the frontier of Egypt proper. 32 The Bogos are classed by Reinisch (loc. cit., p. 94) with the Hamites, or "Kushites," as he calls them. But he elsewhere rightly affiliates them to the Abyssinian Semites, as speaking a pure Tigré (Geez) dialect, herein agreeing with Munziger in his "Ostafrikanische Studien," who is our best authority on these fragmentary ethnical groups on the north and north-east frontiers of Abyssinia. 33 The Jalin claim special consideration as the most numerous, intelligent, and purest of all the Sudanese Arabs. They trace their descent from Abbas, uncle of the Prophet; but their Arabic speech, preserved and spoken with great purity, indicates the Hejas as their original home. The chief Jalin tribes, as enumerated by Munziger, are: Muhammadab, Mikringa, Bagelab, Uâdieh, Gebâlab, Kaliab, Gummieh, Gummeab, Gereshab Nifeab, Sadab, Jaudallahab, Mekaberab, Meirefab, Mosellemab, Omarab, Timerab, Kitejab, Giaberab, Aliab, Giuberab, Seidab, Shatinab, Megiadub. The final ab of these tribal names is not an Arabic, but a Beja patronymic ending, borrowed from the neighbouring Hadendoahs of the Mareb Valley, with whom they have long been intimately associated. Some of the Jalin tribes of the Barka district have even adopted the To-Bedawich language, and pass for Hamites. 34 Es ist nicht unmöglich dass die beiden Völker [Kababish and Baqqára] von einem Stamme entsprossen, sich die Weide vertheilt haben, wodurch die Trennung stereotyp wurde. Die Kuhhirten hielten sich an den grasigen Süden, die Kababish an den trockenen aber von Mimosen stark bewaldeten Norden, der allein dem Kameel und der Ziege Convenirt." (Munziger, op. cit., p. 561.) 35 The natives of Kaffa, whose affinity to the Gallas has now been determined by Leo Reinisch, are collectively called Sidama by G. Chiarini in "Memorie della Società Geografica Italiana," I, Part 2, 1878. 36 Afar appears to be the most general national name, Adal that of the dominant tribe; Danakil (plural Dankali and Danakli) is the name by which they are known to their Arab and Hamite neighbours. Chiarini (loc. cit.) recognises the close relationship of Somali and Galla, but asserts that the Afar language "ha ben poco di commune colla galla." 37 The Halenga of the Mareb river are, however, said to be of undoubted Amharic descent. 38 "Sie sind wohl der Ueberrest des alten Abyssinischen Reiches vor der Einwanderung der Semiten" (Munziger, op. cit., p. 76). The type of the Basé (whose true name is Kunáma), as described and figured by F. L. James ("Wild Tribes of the Sudán " (London, 1883), seems distinctly Negroid. In the Preface, p. 1, of that work, they are stated to be "of a totally different type, much blacker and more closely allied to the pure Negro than any of their neighbours." Yet Munziger asserts that the "sogennante Negertypus fehlt" (p. 467). The point must be finally decided by a study of their language, of which nothing appears to be known. Of the Barea there are two divisions, those of the Hagr district who call themselves Nere, and those of Mogareb. There is no general national name, Barea, meaning "slave," being simply an abusive term applied to them by the Abyssinians. 39 "Die Sprache von Tegelé hat mit dem Nuba nichts gemein; ein genaueres Studium der erstern hat mich Russeger's Classification entgegen, davon überzeugt" (Munziger, “Ostafrikanische Studien," p. 551). The same writer, a personal observer, assures us (p. 557) that there is absolutely nothing of the conventional Negro type about them; and as their language is neither Arabic, Hamitic, nor Nuba, their true position remains still to be determined. MAY 13TH, 1884. Professor W. H. FLOWER, LL.D., F.R.S., President, in the Chair. The Minutes of the last meeting were read and signed. The following presents were announced, and thanks voted to the respective donors: FOR THE LIBRARY. From Dr. MUIRHEAD.-Cambuslang. By J. T. T. Brown. From the SEC. DE FOMENTO.-Informe dirijido al Señor Secretario de Fomento sobre los trabajos ejecutados durante el año de 1883, por la Oficina de Estadistica Republica de Guatemala. From the SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR.-Third Report of the United States Entomological Commission. From the AUTHOR.--Ein Beitrag zur Kenntniss der Fulischen Sprache in Africa. By Gottlob Adolf Krause. The Lost Tasmanian Race. By James Bonwick. Notes on Labour in Central Africa. By Robert W. Felkin. From the ACADEMY.-Proceedings of the Davenport Academy of Jaarboek van de Koninklijke Akademie van Wetenschappen gevestigd te Amsterdam voor 1882. Processen-Verbaal van de Gewone Vergaderingen der Koninklijke Akademie van Wetenschappen. Afd. Natuurkunde. Mei, 1882; Ap., 1883. From the ACADEMY.-Verslagen en Mededeelingen der Koninklijke Akademie van Wetenschappen. Afd. Natuurkunde. Tweede Reeks. Deel. XVIII. Atti della R. Accademia dei Lincei. Transunti. Vol. VIII, From the HUNGARIAN ACADEMY.-Mathematische und Naturwissenschaftliche Berichte aus Ungarn. Erster Band. From the AssOCIATION.-Report of the British Association, 1883. Southport. From the INSTITUTE.-Proceedings of the Canadian Institute. Vol. II, Fas. 1. From the LIBRARIAN.-Report of the Mitchell Library, Glasgow, 1883. From the DIRECTOR-GENERAL of the MUSEU NACIONAL DE RIO DE JANEIRO. Guia da Exposição Anthropologica Brazileira realizada pelo Museu Nacional do Rio de Janeiro. From the SOCIETY.-Transactions of the Anthropological Society of Mittheilungen der Anthropologischen Gesellschaft in Wien. Proceedings of the Asiatic Society of Bengal. 1883, No. 10. Transactions of the Asiatic Society of Japan. Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society. Vol. XVI, Part 1. From the EDITOR.-" Nature." Nos. 756-758. Revue Scientifique. No. 19. "Science." Nos. 63, 64. Science Monthly. May, 1884. Vol. XI, Part 2. Dr. MAXWELL T. MASTERS exhibited a series of agricultural implements brought by Mr. Livesay from the Naga Hills, at the north-east corner of Assam. The tools were chiefly such as are used for rice culture on the irrigated slopes of the hills; the natives are said to be like the Burmese, and wild, but with a considerable degree of civilisation. A large rude knife is used for all purposes for which a knife can be used, even to the decapitation of differentiating neighbours. The skulls of the decapitated ones are burnt. The implements exhibited were rakes made of bamboo and wood, a hoe and iron knife with cord and wooden sheath for suspension. Dr. J. STEPHENS sent a drawing of a large pointed Palæolithic implement, recently found near Reading; length 9 inches, weight 2 lbs. 34 oz. Mr. W. G. SMITH exhibited two Palæolithic implements, |