Page:Africa by Élisée Reclus, Volume 3.djvu/568

 aquiline nose. The complexion is somewhat lighter than that of the surrounding Niam-Niams and Negroes. The beard also is longer than amongst most Africans, while thousands are noted for an almost white skin and light hair, although kinky like that of other Negroes. Certainly nowhere else is the relative proportion of albinos so great as amongst the Monbuttus, who are otherwise distinguished by their long and somewhat slender extremities, muscular frames, and marvellous agility. Faithful to their ancestral customs, all the men wear a dress made from the bark of the fig-tree, to which time imparts a glossy appearance, and which is wound in graceful folds round the legs and body and fastened to the waist by ox-hide thongs ornamented with copper. The women’ wear a simple loin-cloth,

end in ser even this is dispensed with, or replaced by a graceful network Fig. 237—Cumy Whole body is painted over with stars, crosses, [ — —  —  —  — ]suchlike designs regularly disposed, and at [ —  —  —  —  — ]of fresh patterns. of human gers for future gl the fat of edged word, veloped, and 180 Miles. the Nubians, y, the natives ance, bravely worable expedition, the subsequent journeys of Bohndorff, Lug i, wife is

aw a aatela of a secondary interest only to the Tie her personal almost the husband's eyes Bit it is otherwise with Jun”

will, and recognised rights. Buc... __ - swe surrounuing Negroes, the women do most of the heavy work both in the field and at home, and many artistic objects, such as wood-carvings and fine wickerwork, are the product of their hands.

The industrics are, relatively speaking, highly developed. As potters, sculptors, boatbuilders, and masons the Monbuttus have no rivals in the region between the Nile and Congo. In the quadrangular form of the dwellings their architecture 18 allied to that of the western peoples, but surpasses it in the size and skilful adjustment of their structures and wealth of ornamental work lavished on their