Political relations.—Subject to Ægypt.
Intermixture.—Arab. Negro from slaves.
Religion.—Paganism and Mahometanism.
Habits.—Agricultural and trading.
Physical appearance.—Eyes, deep set and sparkling; nose, pointed; nostrils, large; mouth, wide; lips, moderate; hair and beard, thin; body, slender; colour, shining jet black.—Denon.[181]
Hair, long, slightly crisp, not woolly. Colour, intermediate between the ebon-black of Sennaar Negroes, and the brown of Ægyptians.[181]—Costaz.
Extract from Rüppell[181] as to the Dongolawi.—"An attentive inquiry will enable us to distinguish amongst the old national physiognomies, which their forefathers have marked upon colossal statues, and the bas-reliefs of temples and sepulchres, a long oval countenance, beautifully-curved nose, somewhat rounded towards the top, proportionately thick lips, but not protruding excessively, a retreating chin, scanty beard, lively eyes, strongly frizzled but never woolly hair, and remarkably beautiful figure, generally of middle size, and a bronze colour, as the characteristics of the genuine Dongolawi."
Descent.—From the ancient Nobatæ.
The relation between the Nubian of Nubia, and the Koldagi language of Kordofan, was first indicated by Rüppell, and has been generally admitted.