INTRODUCTORY 15
prise us in the Christian tradition of the Berber tribes. They have presumably been, in turn, of the religion of every great invader. Their language has been classed among the Hamitic languages, but they have traditions of Arabian descent. One among many stories of their original introduction into Africa is that five colonies were introduced from Arabia Felix by a certain leader Ifrikiah, or Afrikiah, who gave his name to the continent ; and that from these are descended no less than six hundred clans of
Berbers. Amongst their many tribes is not, however, to be counted a race wholly distinct from the Berbers, but also nomad in the eastern desert, who are said by those learned in these matters to be the true gypsy of the East.
The tradition of the Zingari, as they are found in Northern Africa, is that they came originally from India. This
tradition is to be met with again, though faintly and un-
certainly recalled, amongst some of the races of Western Negroland.
While the northern strip pressed thus upon the desert, the desert, there can be little doubt, pressed equally upon the fertile belt to the south. Quite indirectly the influence of Tyre and Sidon, Rome and Carthage, must have been brought to bear from the very earliest periods upon Negroland. But besides this indirect in-
fluence of pressure by the superior race along the whole course of their borders — an influence which, as will pre-
sently be seen, was very potent in modifying the char-
acter of the leading black races of Negroland — there were also channels of direct influence which, though Europe has ceased to use them, remain unchanged to this day.
These are the caravan routes across the desert. Nature
laid them down, and has marked them by certain spots where water can be obtained. The springs have not changed their position within any period of which history has preserved a record, and it is an interesting illustration of the continuity of custom which strikes the imagination in these remote regions of the earth, that the roads trodden
by the caravans which this year visit Kano and Tim-