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192
THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
(JULY, 1890
condants of Arabs, Indians, and Africans of various tribes; and several other nations. It is not necessary for us now to take any notice of the latter classes.
The inhabitants of the hilly (Beduins, as they are called) are divided into numeroas families belonging to a few principal tribes. Of these, the Karshin, who inhabit the western end of the island, claim to be descended from the Portuguese. The Momi, who reside in the castern end of the island, are said to trace descent from the aborigines and the Abyssinians, whilst the Kamahen, who live about Jabal Hnjar and the hills above the Hadîbu plain, claim to arise from the intermarriage of the aborigines with the Mahri Arabs from the opposite coast. There is also a small tribe of about one hundred and fifty men, called Beni Rahov, in the vicinity of Ras Mori. Their forefathers are said to have been Jews, and the features of the tribe still retain a strong resemblance to thoso of that race.
Whatever be their origin, certain it is that the hill people have a very distinct appearance. The men are usually tall and finely made, with broad shoulders, lean flanks and remarkably well forme limbs, reminding one very forcibly of the European build, a facial angle as open as that of Europeans, the nose slightly aquiline, the eyes lively and expressive, the teeth good, the lips thin and tho mouth well formed. The hair is worn long, aud has a slight natnral curl, withont approach to a woolly or crisp texture. They also generally wear a beard and whiskers, but never moustaches. They have no characteristics in common with the Arabs and Somalis, and some points about them are essentially different. Their complexion varies a good deal, some being ns fair as the inhabitants of Sürat, while others are as dark as the Hindus on the hauks of the Ganges.
They walk with an erect gait over the worst ground, and bound over the hills like ante. lopes. From constantly climbing the rocks they have contracted a habit of turning in their toes, which gives them, when on the plains, a slight degree of awkwardness in their walk.
Yet, not withstanding this defect, the regalarity of their features the fairness of their complexions (for those which are dark are but a small proportion of their number), and the models of symmetry which they occasionally present to the eye, render them a remarkably good-looking people, distinct and remored from any of the varieties of the human race seen on the shores of the continent on either side.
Their dress consists of a loin-cloth, one end of which is commonly thrown over the shoulder, isually with a knife stuck in the waist, and they invariably carry a long stick. In their various moules of dressing the hair they display a little toppery; some having it frizzleil, others
llowing it to curl naturally, while the greater number permit it to grow to a considerable lengtb. and plait it into tte'sses. contined to the head by a braided cord made from their own hair.
Their skins are clear, shining, and remarkably free from cruptive or cutaneous disorders. Many, however, aprer searred from the application of hot irons, for the removal of local complaints, a mode of enre here in as great repute as among their neighbours the Soraalis and Arabs.
The silme remarks mas be applied with little alteration to the persons and features of the females. We find in them the same symmetry of formi, the same regularity of feature, and the Sime liveliness of expression : but their complexion does not part in an equal degree, few being tarker than the fairest of the men, and when yoang they are rarely otherwise than prettr. The legs of many advanced in age are of an astonishing thickness; but this defect is chiefly observ. ble among those who reside in the low lands, and seldom occurs among the highland females. 14
16 From the opportuuities which he enjoyed of judging on these points. Wollsted's deseriptiou ought to be con. Eulered authoritative. He says (p. 333) :-" It was very amusing to observe the terror of the females we passed on our several journey here: no sooner they eateh a glimpse of our party thau, servaming out lelak, lakoff they ran, carrying their childreu either on their backs or beneath their arue. Oue damsel timing that her progress wito imposed by her lover habiliments, threw them without hesitation over her head; and another similarly situated, dropped her ouly lower garment, and effected a swift escape without it. I could not but observe that their legs, compared to those of the men, were of an astonishiug thickness, and Xature, in that part of the human frame which has with Hottentots attracted the attention of our physiologists, appears here to be not less bountiful."
