The Origins of the Fulani ... توثيق

Quote: At the present time, the most numerous and powerful people in Central Africa, south of the region occupied by the Berbers, are the Fulans, a people remarkable there for their intelligence, skill, and restless ambition. Their influence is already established at many of the more important points, from Senegambia to the Nile, near the western border of Abyssinia, and especially in Soudan. They seem likely to become supreme in all the central countries. Every traveler in that part of Africa describes the Fulans, and speculates vainly concerning their history. They resemble, substantially, the great body of the brown race of the continent, and show the same traces of mixture with other races. Dr. Barth says of them: "If any African tribe deserves the full attention of the learned European, it is that of the Fulbe (sing. Pullo), or Fula, as they are called by the Mandingoes; Fellani {sing. Bafellanchi) by the Hausa people, Fellata by the Kanuri, and Fulan by the Arabs. No doubt they are the most intelligent of all the [Central] African tribes, although in bodily development they cannot be said to exhibit the most perfect specimens. It is their superior intelligence that gives their chief expression to the Fulbe. But as to their outward appearance, which presents various contrasts in complexion as well as bodily developpent, we must first take into account that the Fulbe, as a conquering tribe, sweeping over a wide expanse of provinces, have absorbed and incorporated with themselves different and quite distinct national elements." The Fulans, on account of their prominence and importance, have been a topic of much speculation. One or two writers have assumed that they were not originally an African people. M. Eichwaldt published an essay in Origin of the Fulans. 333 the Journal de la SociStS Mhnologique for 1841, in which he sought, by cleverly managed assumption and hypothesis, to connect them with the Malays by way of Meroe. Dr. Barth says: "I myself am of opinion that their origin is to be sought in the direction of the east; but this refers to an age which, for us, is enveloped in impenetrable darkness. * * There may be some remote affinity between the Fulbe and the South African tribes, but this refers to an age probably not later than the rule of the Pharaohs." The Fulans, nevertheless, are only a branch of the race found everywhere in Central, Eastern, and Southern Africa. Whatever shall explain their origin will explain that of the whole race.Within the historical period, and since the beginning of the Christian Era, there has been more civilization in Africa than exists at the present time. Dr. Barth shows that Bornou, in Central Africa, has declined from a higher condition of civilization. The ruins of its former capital, its historical literature, and other facts still apparent to those who observe that country carefully, make plain that not many centuries have passed since there was in Bornou a higher knowledge, and practice of the builder's art, a more effective political organization, considerable literary culture, and a better condition of manufactures and commerce. That old tradition of the people which connects the origin of this kingdom with the Himyarite sovereigns of Arabia, whether correct or incorrect, is not without significance. There is much in the history of Arabia, as well as in the present condition of Africa, to show that the Cu####e Arabians occupied Central Africa in very remote times