Abyssinians. A mixed race of Hamitic, Semitic, and Negro stock, inhabiting Abyssinia (from Arabic habashi—mixed). The main racial element—Abyssinians proper—consists of brown-skinned Semitic Himyarites, who probably emigrated from Arabia in prehistoric times, and profess themselves descended from the Queen of Sheba. Since the sixteenth century Abyssinia has been over-run by the Hamitic [Gallas] (q.v.), who have largely mingled their blood with this older element. There is also a considerable admixture of Sudanese Negro blood. Since the fourth century the religion of Abyssinia has been a corrupt form of Christianity; the mediæval myth of Prester John perhaps relates to this fact.
Acadians. French settlers of seventeenth century in Nova Scotia.
Achcæans. See [ARGIVES].
Achinese. A warlike Malay race of Sumatra, long at war with the Dutch colonists.
Accras. See [GA].
Achuas, or Wochua. A pygmy Negrito race, well-proportioned, though dwarfish, inhabiting the forests of the Welle and Aruwimi districts in Central Africa, and living by hunting.
Adamawa Group. A group of Sudanese Negro tribes inhabiting the district of the Upper Benue in Northern Nigeria.
Adansis. Negro tribe on Guinea coast. See [TSHI].
Æolians. See [HELLENES].
Aetas. A Negrito race of the Philippine Islands, belonging to the Oceanic family of Ethiopic Man. Short of stature, black-skinned, with woolly hair, they present many points of resemblance to the Negritoes of Central Africa. There are many crosses between Aetas and Malays.