80 SORGHUM. 



The following letters were received through the kindness of Mr. 

 Dyer, of the Royiil Gardens, Kew, to whom a list of the Iniphee 

 ulanies had been sent. The one is from the Assistant Secretary of Na- 

 tive Affairs at Natal, the other from .the daughter of the late Bishop 

 of Natal : 



Secretary of Native Affairs to Colonial Secretary, Xatal: 



I can not give the meaning of the generic term, "Imfe," nor can I find na- 

 tives that can do so. The natives that I have spoken to only know of six varieties 

 of the "Imfe," of which I will give the names and derivations:. 



1st. "Ij-enga" — Enticer — from its drooping or waving ear or head of corn. 



2nd. Umbemba— Sprouts or shoots. This cane invariably having small 

 shoots from each joint. 



8rd. " Uzimumana " — The enwrapped — from the close adherence of the outer 

 leaves to the cane. 



4th. Umapofu — The yellow — from its yellow color. 



5th. Ihlosa — The prominent — from its growing generally higher than other 

 corn with which it is sown. 



6th. Unfenkulu— The great Imfe— from its large size. 



The names given in the list inclosed by you, are, I believe, repetitions ob- 

 tained from different tribes, many having names according to the dialect spoken. 

 The names are also badly spelt. 



(Signed,) J- Shepstoxe, 



Asst Secy jor Native Affairs. 



Nos. 2, 3, and 4 of this list are new names, for they neither appear 

 in the list of names of Mr. Wray's varieties, nor in that of the seeds 

 t.ud panicles received by me from Natal. 



Lid of Imphees returned by 3Hss Colenso. 



'• Undendebule." Not* recognized, but the word ukudendebuleka 

 means " capable of being peeled straight down through the joints." 



" Umkuuyana." Not recognized, but the word should mean " rather 

 hard." 



" Unhlokonde," " Hlgonde," " Slagonda." The first means "long 

 Lead ;" the others are the same word misspelt. 



"Ibohla " probably mexins " causing flatulence." 



" lyenga," " Eenga," " Engha." The first means " loose headed," 

 "waving;" the others are the same word misspelt. 



" Umuyaui-mude — "with long flower stalks or head." The head 

 in this variety is still longer than that of the " Unhlokonde. 



"Boomvana," "Boom-vwana," Booena." The first means "small 

 red " or "rather red ;' the last two are misspelt. 



" Uzimumana," " Limmoomana," " Ziramoomana." The first means 

 " close," " thick headed." The last two names are misspelt. 



