Page:Africa by Élisée Reclus, Volume 1.djvu/197

 former god, instead of to Allah, and have also ceased to raise mounds over their dead, like the Bogos. They number about 16,000, and are divided into two tribes, the "Blacks" and the "Reds." These last, forming the southern division, by a strange contrast, cultivate a blackish soil, whilst the former, or northern division, occupy a reddish soil. Their language is identical with that of their slaves, the conquered Tigre, who possess no rights, in spite of the precepts of Mohammedanism, which confers the title of brothers on all the faithful. On the death of a Marea the head of every Tigré family is bound to present a cow to his heirs. The Mareas exceed all other races in aristocratic pride. Death without defence is the only punishment they will receive, for they refuse to humble themselves by appearing before any tribunal and offering any excuses for their conduct. If the blood of the tribe is sullied by an illegitimate birth, father, mother, and child are all destroyed. North of the Mensas and Mareas are the Az-Hibbehs or Ilababs, pastors wandering over the mountainous plateaus bounded east by the Sahel plains of the Red Sea, and west by the Barka Valley. These people also are connected with the Abyssinians by their language—which, like the Tigré, is a Ghez dialect—as well as by their traditions. They were Christians, at least in name, down to the middle of the nineteenth century, but on adopting a nomad life they also conformed to the religion of the surrounding tribes. Divided into small republics, their only wealth consisting of cattle, the Hababs roam amongst the surrounding mountains and plains in search of water and pastures. During the winter the lonely Nafka plateau, which may be considered the centre of the Habab country, is completely abandoned to the wild beasts.

Nevertheless, the remains of buildings and graves disposed in three or four circular stages prove that this region was once permanently occupied. These ruins are attributed to the Bet-Maliehs, or "People of the wealthy abode," a small tribe believed to be of aboriginal extraction. Like the Habab people, the elephant of this region is also nomad; during the winter rains its herds frequent the eastern slopes of the plateau bordering the Sahel, in summer returning to the Nafka heights on their way westwards to the Barka Valley and the slopes of the Abyssinian mountains.

In the lowland districts north, west, and east of the Hababs dwell the Beni- Amers, who appear to be of mixed Abyssinian and Beja origin, speaking a dialect half Beja, "Bedouin," and half Tigré, locally known by the name of Ifassa. Amongst the Nebtabs of the Sahel—all nobles, and recognised as such by their neighbours—both languages are also current. The Abyssinian element is more strongly represented according as the Beni-Araer tribes approach the great plateau, and those living in the plains of Samhar, near the Mensas, speak Tigré almost