TOBACCO IN AFRICA. 



361 



The tobacco plant is also cultivated in other parts of Africa 

 besides Algiers. In Egypt and Nubia it is grown to a con- 

 siderable extent, as well as by most of the native tribes of 

 the South-west. Among some tribes it forms an important 

 article of trade, and serves the purpose of money or its repre- 

 sentative. The natives are partial to the plant, and devotedly 

 attached to smoking. Little patches may be seen near their 

 huts, on which they lavish their attention and care. In some 

 parts of Africa tobacco grows to a very great height. Liv- 

 ingstone gives an account of a variety that attained an 

 altitude much higher than the American plant. Several 

 varieties are cultivated, some of them resembling the Shiraz 

 and Latakia, while most of it is said to be similar to Virginia 

 tobacco, only larger. With careful culture the plant would 



doubtless thrive in 

 most parts of Afri- 

 ca, as the soil is 

 light and the sea- 

 son usually favor- 

 able. Though the 

 heat is extreme the 

 plant flourishes 

 even in the hottest 

 part of the season, 

 and attains a de- 

 gree of perfection 

 corresponding to 

 the labor bestowed 

 by the natives in 

 cultivating. Their manner of curing is simply by drying the 

 leaves, and is not suited to the taste of any besides them- 

 selves. In Egypt, Algiers, and Nubia, the plant is culti- 

 vated with more care, and a better system of curing is 

 adopted than by the natives of the interior. Burton gives 

 an account of the cultivation of tobacco by the natives of 

 East Africa : 



" Tobacco grows plentifully in the more fertile regions of 



TOHACCO FIELD IN AFRICA. 



