Page:Africa by Élisée Reclus, Volume 1.djvu/574

 470 APPENDIX n. The Wa-huma, to whom the attention of ethnologists has scarcely yet been seriously directed, present some points of great anthropological interest, probably affording a solution of the difficulties connected with the constituent elements of the Bantu races in East Central Africa. Speke had already observed that the chiefs of the Bantu nations about the great lakes were always Wa-Huma, a pastoral people evidently of Galla stock, and originally immigrants from the Galla country. Since then it has been ascer- tained that several Wa-Huma communities live interspersed amongst the mixed Bantu nations of the lacustrine plateau, and J. M. Schuver was recently informed that the Negro inhabitants of tlio Afilo country were governed by a Galla aristocracy.* From tliese and other indications it seems highly probable that in point of fact the Bantu peoples are fundamentally Negroes in diverse proportions atfected by Wa-Huma or Galla, that is Hamitic, elements. The Wa-Huma, who under the name of Wa-Tusi,t are found as far south as the U-nyamezi country, are by recent observers unanimously described as a very fine race, with oval face, straight nose, small mouth, and generally speaking regular Caucasic features. Such a type is found everywhere cropping out araid the surrounding Negroid populations throughout the southern half of the con- tinent, and the conclusion seems irresistible that it should be referred to these Wa- Huma or Hamitic Gallas, probably for ages advancing ^s conquerors from the north- east into the heart of the continent. No distinct mention is made of the Wa-Huma speech. It is known, however, to differ from that of the Bantus i>roper ; and when we hear that the late King M'Tesa of U-Ganda spoke Galla as his mother-tongue, and was proud of his Galla ancestors, little doubt can remain on this point. The Wa-Huma are also distinguished by their intense love both of personal freedom and political autonomy, sentiments which are but feebly developed amongst the true Negro populations. Such is their horror of captivity and a foreign yoke, that those who have failed to maintain their independence are no longer regarded as true Wa-Huma. The very women who have the misfortune to fall into the hands of the Arab slave-dealers are looked upon as degraded for ever, and should they escape from bondage, are burnt alive by their own people. Traits of this sort would almost alone suffice to suspect at least a very large infusion of non-Negro blood in the AVa-Huma race. This element we may now trace with some confidence to the Hamites of North- East Africa as its true source. Ittu Mountains, 41°— 42' E., 9°— 10° N. South-east of Ankober. West from Tajutra Bay. West of Lake Ardibbo. East of Lakes Ardibbo and Haic. Largo nation east side Upper Nile, east of the Bari, south of the Shuli ; about 4° N. lat., 39° E. long. Speech akin to the Ihn-Orma (Galla) dialect. South of Gojam. West of Zebul. Ittu. Carayu. Dauari. Wolo Worro-Babbo. Latuka. .Vtcha liaya Asabo Lango Wa-Huma Wa-Tusi. Sidama. Somerset Nile between Foweira and Magungo. Intermingled with the Bantu populations of the Kafialand, south-west of Shoa, hitherto wrongly grouped with the Nubas.J I Intermingled with the Bantu populations of the eastern equatorial regions. kratie beherrscht wird" (Petermann's Mittheilungen, 1883, v. p. 194). t And arc no doubt also known by other names. Thus the Wa-Taturu shepherds of U-Kerew6 li^Iand 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-Kerew6 neighbours, "a mixture of the Ethiopic and Negro type." ("Through the Dark Continent," vol. i. p. 261.) X The natives of Kaffa, whose affinity to the Gal'as has now been determined by Leo Reinisch. are collectively called Sidama by G. Chiarini in " Memorie della Societa Geografica Italiana," i. Part 2, 1878.
 * " Afilo wurde mir vom Lega-Konig als ein Negerland bezeichnet, welches von einer Galla-Aristo-