Page:Africa by Élisée Reclus, Volume 3.djvu/181

 Inclining to red, and according to Tautain the true meaning of Sérékhullé is "red men." The facial prognathism is very marked, and they are further distinguished by a retreating brow, slightly prominent cheek-bones, short thick nose, receding chin, woolly but not curly hair. Most of the women dress their hair in the form of a helmet, elegantly interwoven with glass trinkets and amber beads visible through a floating gauze veil. Their houses are also kept very clean and tastefully

grouped in hamlets disposed round a large central tree with a raised encircling platform, where the villagers assemble to discuss public affairs. Notwithstanding their mild and essentially peaceful disposition, the Sarakoles have by passive resistance contrived to keep together in a number of petty monarchical or oligarchical states, some isolated, some grouped in confederacies, but all now Mohammedan. Many trade in caravans from village to village, even visiting the coast, in order to see with their own eyes the wonderful things of which they have heard. Few harbour hostile feelings towards the whites, with whom they willingly associate, and under whom they readily accept service by land and water. Thus combining the qualities of settled and nomad populations, and naturally of a