Page:Africa by Élisée Reclus, Volume 2.djvu/316

 256 NOETH-WEST AFRICA. uplands, dwell the Gueshtula or Igueshdulen, who arc usually identified with the ancient Getulians, and who differ in many respects from the other inhabitants of the Jurjura district. They are a small " bullet-headed " people, less cultured than the Zwawas, living in wretched hovels, and occupied chiefly in t^jnding the herds of their more jxjwerful neighbours. Near them are the Abids, descended of emancipated Negro slaves, and farther north the formerly powerful Mahacta tribe. The West Kabyle highlands are occupied by the Flissa-ura-el-Lil, or Flissa of the Night, called also Flissa of the Woods, descended of the warlike Issaflenses, who maintained a long struggle against the Romans. The Flissa of the Sea, another branch of this group, separated from their brethren by the Isser, the Ait- AVaguonnun, and other communities, were formerly noted armourers, whose swords, inodellod on the Roman gladium, and worn by most of the natives, still take the name of " flissa." Amongst the other Kabyle groups, the most important are the Zarfawa of the Azeft'un district, the Bu-Daud at the north-east extremity of Kabylia, and the Ait-Gobri cast of the Zwawas. On the outer flanks of the Jurjura are also some powerful tribes, such as the Ait-Ughli, between Akbu and Bougie ; the Illula Assjimor, or Illulas of the Sun, so named in contradistinction to the Illula Umalu, or Illulas of the Shade, residing on the northern slope of the Upper Jurjura; and the Ait-Mlikesh, bordering on the Beni-Mansur marabuts, who occupy several villages south of the Wed Sahel. Lastly, in the Lower Sebau Valley are settled the Amarawa people, who comprise the most diverse elements, and who long constituted u makhzon, or military tribe, in constant feud with its neighbours. Li Groat Kabylia ethnologists recognise two predominant types, one distin- guished by round features, prominent cheek-bones, pointed lower jaw, probably representing the aborigines ; the other with flat, oval face, small bright eyes, nose <lepressed at the root, projecting upper incisors. In general the Kabyles are of middle size, strong and muscular, but mostly tainted with syphilitic diseases. But however different in physical appearance, all the Kabyles of the Jurjura and eastern ranges are one in speech, speaking Zwawia, a Berber dialect affected by Arab elements in the proportion of about one-third. From Arabic are usually borrowed terms relating to mental or moral subjects, to religion, law, the arts and sciences, and to such plants, animals, and other objects as have been introduced since the Mussulman conquest. In the same language are composed the few works read by the cultured Kabyles, whose mother tongue is no' longer written ; in fact, the only literature it possesses are some theological tractates and a few songs, differing from the ordinary language of conversation by a larger infusion of Semitic elements. Thus the Kabyle gradually acquires a knowledge of Arabic, and wherever the rival tongues meet on common ground, the more useful tends to prevail. The essential difference between the .two races lies in the greater love of a nomad life shown by the Arab, the Berber everywhere preferring a fixed abode and agricultural pursuits. He betrays the same passion for the soil as does the