Solimas. See [TEMNÉ GROUP].
Somalis. An Eastern Hamitic race of Somaliland in North-East Africa. They are a pastoral people, of good physique, handsome features, and light-brown colour, warlike and independent. The original Hamitic stock—closely akin to that of the [Gallas] (q.v.)—is modified by Semitic and Negro blood. They make excellent soldiers and servants.
Sonrhays. A Negro race of the Middle Niger, in whom the Sudanese stock is modified by Arab and Berber elements.
Sorbs. See [WENDS].
Soyots. A tribe of Ugrian Finns, mixed with Tartar blood, in the Sayan Mountains of South Siberia. See [FINNO-UGRIAN].
Spaniards, or Spanish. The earliest known race of Spain was the Hamitic [Iberians] (q.v.), now represented by the Basques. They were modified by Celtic invasions, which gave birth to the Celt-Iberian races of Central and Western Spain, who struggled so long against the Roman arms, by which they were finally subjugated and further modified. In the fifth century the [Vandals] and [Visigoths] (q.v.) invaded Spain, and founded a Gothic monarchy, which fell before the Saracens in 711. The Visigothic refugees in the northern mountains gradually recovered the country, and the kingdoms of Leon, Navarre, Castile, and Aragon were ultimately united into a single state. The modern Spaniards are thus of mixed race, in which the Iberian and Visigothic are the predominant elements. They are haughty, brave, and warlike, by which qualities they once owned the greatest power in Europe. But they are turbulent and lacking in political skill, so that Spain has decayed. There are now signs of a return to prosperity.
Spanish Americans. White natives of Central and South American States, except Brazil.
Spartans. Natives of Sparta, the greatest state of ancient Greece after Athens, of Dorian stock, eminently warlike and patriotic, but wanting in art or literature.
Sudanese. Full-blooded Negroes inhabiting the Western, Central, and Eastern or Egyptian Sudan—i.e. most of Africa north of the Victoria Nyanza. They are black in colour, with woolly hair, projecting jaws, long skulls, broad, flat feet and projecting heels, and form one of the main divisions of Ethiopic Man. They are less intelligent and susceptible of civilisation than the [Bantus] (q.v.), in whom the Negro blood is modified by Hamitic or Semitic admixtures. They are mostly of strong physique, warlike and predatory, fond of music and bright colours, with the most elementary notions of art and religion. They may be divided for convenience into several racial groups (q.v.), such as [Wolof], [Felup], [Toucouleur], [Mandingan], [Temné], [Nigerian], [Nilotic], [Liberian], [Lake Chad], [Wadai], [Welle], [Nuba], and [Nilotic], besides the [Tshi], [Ga], [Ewe], and [Yoruba] peoples of the Guinea district.
Suevi. See [SWABIANS].