Vegetable Prod net ions of Abyssinia 315 



from the long pendulous racemes of crimson flowers and woody seed- 

 pods, the peduncles being from four to six feet long. This is said 

 to possess aphrodisiacal properties of a most extraordinary nature. 



The bark of the young branches of a Stereospermum, a member 

 of the same family as the last, is rolled on sticks, and when dry 

 made into flutes. 



Thereare several plants belonging to the Dog-banes, or Apocyneoe, 

 indigenous in Abyssinia. The fruits of Carissa edulis and C. 

 tomentosa are eaten. Asclepiadeae, numerous in Africa, especially 

 the tuberous-rooted species of Southern Africa, furnish one or two 

 edible roots. The boiled tubers of Ceropegia Vignaldiana resemble 

 Jerusalem artichokes ; and those of a Gomphocarpus are also eaten 

 when peeled and boiled. 



Solanaceae are plentiful. Several varieties of tobacco are culti- 

 vated ; and Capsicum conoides is grown in considerable quantities, 

 and used as pepper. It possesses an aromatic pungency in a high 

 degree, and a very small quantity is required to season a dish. If 

 taken too freely it irritates the stomach and intestines, and induces 

 dysentery. Solanum marginatum is made use of in tanning leather, 

 and the fruit of another species is employed as a cathartic. 



A jasmine, Jasminum floribundum, has intensely bitter leaves, 

 which are used as an anthelmintic. The large family of the Com- 

 positese is well represented in Abyssinia ; but the species are not so 

 numerous as might have been expected. The aromatic leaves of 

 Dichrocepha latifolia are used as a spice. 



Carthamus tinctorius is cultivated, and an oil extracted from its 

 seeds. Myrsinaceae are few. The fruit of a species of Myrsine is 

 mixed with barley, and given to mules and asses, and that of Maesa 

 lanceolata is regarded as vermifugal. Cordia Abyssinia (Cori- 

 diace?e) should be mentioned. Bruce informs us that all the towns 

 are planted with them. Every house in Gondar has two or three 

 planted around it. The flowers are conspicuous, white in colour, 

 and very profuse, so that in the flowering season the towns are 

 exceedingly gay and pleasant. 



Rubiacefe, or Cinchonaceae, are numerous, and many of them 

 very beautiful and interesting. The most important is the coffee 

 bush, Coffea Arabica, a native of the south-western part of Abys- 

 sinia, and commonly cultivated. It was, however, first known to 

 Europeans from Arabia, hence the specific name ; but it has since 

 been ascertained that it was originally introduced into that country 

 by the Arabs, and cultivated in Yemen, whence was derived all the 



