Research Items

Abstract

THE ORIGIN of THE MAKAI.—In the Journal of the East Africa and Uganda Natural History Society. No. 28, Mr. .C. L. Bolton criticises the theories on the origin of the Masai and other non-Bantu races of Konya and Uganda which were advanced by Mr. C. C. Luck in tho Journal for August 1926. Mr. Luck suggested that the Masai were the descendants of the half tribe of Manasseh from the west of Jordan and the Nandi of Moab, and lhat there were many proofs of tho influence of the ancient civilisation of Egypt-Mesopotamia in Central Africa. Mr. Bolton maintains, however, that Sir Charles Eliot's arguments against the Semitic origin of the Nilotic languages have never been met, while physically the Masai and Nandi exhibit none of the signs of a Semitic cross. The cultural evidence collected by Mr. Luck points to Egyptian influence. In addition, spitting for luck and on meeting a person, is characteristic of the Mediterranean peoples, and dislike of swine, bewitching by means of anything from the body, aversion from the use of proper names for fear of witchcraft, the sun worship of the Nandi and the possible derivation of L'Oibon from the word for snake and wizard also point to Egypt. The Mosaic traditions noted by Merker may have originated in Egypt before the Jews left the country and hence reached central Africa, or they may have been introduced by Mohammedans or even by Jews trading up the Nile. As an alternative theory of origin, it is suggested that the Somali and Galla are tho lineal descendants of the Macrobians of TTorodotus, ami as independent but unambitious people may have inhabited their present country possibly for thousands of years. The Masai and Nandi may be of Bantu stock crossed with a race from Egypt, possible the Automoli of Herodotus, perhaps themselves a mixed race who drove the Bantu peoples out and took their women. These Bantu still exist as the Wakamba, Kikuyu, and Kitosh. The Bahima appear to be Hamitic negroes with a dash of Aryan blood which may be due to a Persian infiltration of adventurers at tho time of the conquest of Egypt by Cambysos.