ABSTRACT
IN a people gathered from many tribes belonging to three or four nations-Amazulu, Bechuana, Amaswina, Amakalanga-and brought together from various parts of the extensive country which stretches from the Zambesi river in lat. 16° to the Orange river 30° south, it would be unreasonable to expect uniformity of either personal appearance, pursuits, or habits. Hence the very great variety in bodily form, stature, and colour we meet with in that land; from the erect, well-formed body, slender, but well-proportioned limbs, and intelligent Amandebele proper, to the most slender, ill-developed, and least perfectly formed of the Amaswina men. Taking them as a whole, there are few dwarfs and deformed persons, and physically they may be considered a superior race of people. Looking at them, dressed in their native costumes, their average size certainly seems equal to the English; but when measured or weighed, and
clad in European clothes, they are found to be somewhat smaller, and not quite so strong. This is true, however, in respect to the male population only. It is not the case in regard to the fair sex, and therefore I am inclined to think that were the men to exchange their sedentary life of the town for the more active and toilsome one of the field, they would soon become more masculine and muscular-equal in physical qualities to any other race.
