This was likely a re-enactment of some part of the expulsion of the Jews from Egypt…Spaniards could be mandrills covered by Egyptians…peons ~ pians ~ panis?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pani
Some unresolved conflict went on that created the problem all over again.
They were lifted into the Nubians who traded with them and vice-versa – Ben Kingsley would be an example
