ABSTRACT
IN the absence of means for preserving early records, and for bringing down the history of a nation of men, it is difficult to arrive at anything like certainty in reference to their origin, and their relationship to the other families of the human race. Learned men, ho\vever, have brought within our reach valuable and trustworthy materials for assisting us in arriving at the probable truth in respect to the past of the South Mrican nations. Philological and ethnological researches have brought to light such facts as show that, at a former period, the tribes now occupying the Central South parts and a large portion of the east coast of the continent of Africa, were but one great nation. This African race has been called by some the "Bantu" race. Bant1l is the plural of u1nuntu., or a human being; or it is derived from ul1iu (common), and tu (formed). Tllis word is used among a large number of the tribes to denote 'the hUlnan being,' and seems to include the idea of a semblance between them: hence tIle reason for adopting the term to denote this division of tIle South Mricall nations. Some, however, have
a<1opte<1 tIle tel1lln "Zillgiall," froln Z ingis,. the old llaille for Zanguebar, allc1 prefer it because it seems to point to the common origin of these nations. But tIlere are others who seem to prefer the term "Beclluana." Ba-they and chaana are alike. Dr. Bleel~, the best liIlguist in South Africa, prefers the first of these terms, and I think Ilis choice is the best of the three.
