Page:Africa by Élisée Reclus, Volume 3.djvu/183

 THE FULAHS. I47 between the Senegal and Benue rivers. But however vast be this domain in which they have founded great empires, such as those of Haussa and Massina, their settlements are almost everywhere very scattered, and in many regions lost as it were in the surrounding sea of Negro populations. Even in the district of French Sudan specially known as Fula-dugu, or " Fulah Land," and by many regarded as the cradle of the race, only a few Fulah families are now met. Nevertheless throughout their widespread territory they everywhere maintain a- certain national solidarity, recognising themselves as brethren, thanks to the common speech, traditions and usages. Those who have best preserved their racial purity have a somewhat red or bronzed complexion, with features differing little from the Berber type — oval face, ringlety or even smooth hair, straight nose, delicate and rather thin lips. Many, especially of the women, may be described as really beautiful in the European sense of the term, and the charm of this beauty is heightened by their mild, pleasant expression, graceful carriage, noble bearing, and the good taste displayed in their dress and ornamentation. The shape of the skull resembles that of the fellahin in the Nile delta, and many of the women dress their hair like that of the Egyptian statues. They regard themselves as absolutely distinct from the Negroes, and those met by European travellers in Central Sudan never fail to claim brother- hood or kinship with the white strangers. But the majority, being zealous Mohammedans, prefer a Himyaritic or Arab origin, and the Marabouts trace their genealogical tree back to a common ancestor. Fellah ben Himier, " Son of the Ked," that is, of the Ilimyarite, thus explaining at once their descent and complexion. From the surrounding Negroes they are distinguished even more by their pastoral pursuits than hj their physical features. Less nomad than the Moors, they none the less readily change their abodes, even abandoning their hamlets for the sake of their herds, without any thought of returning. By thus following their zebus they have spread over the whole of West Africa, everywhere displaying a marvellous attachment to and knowledge of the habits of these animals. Taken as a whole, the race is distinguished by great intelligence, lofty ideas, a poetic tone, and dignity of speech. The tales recited of an evening in the village groups breathe such an elevated spirit as to be simply unintelligible to the neigh- bouring Negro peoples. Yet the Fulahs have shown their superiority even by taking a lesson from the agricultural blacks, and in some districts they have become completely settled, combining tillage with the national occupation of stock- breeding. They also become skilled craftsmen, and have learnt to extract the metal from the iron ores, smelting and forging it into implements of husbandry, utensils, knives, and weapons. The jewellers handle the precious metals with great taste ; the builders erect solid and commodious dwellings ; the tanners and workers in leather prepare excellent sheaths and many other articles in that material ; lastly, with the native cotton the weavers produce fabrics almost as fine as muslin. As warriors the Fulahs hold their own against all other African races. In