1870.] 



THE AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 



27 



under King Theodore, and was highly instru- 

 mental in bringing the Abyssinian troubles to a 

 favorable issue. He now resides at Beiruth, 

 awaiting an opportunity to return safely to the 

 country in which he suffered much and for which 

 he feels a strong predilection. I applied to him 

 for information respecting the bees found there 

 and the kind of management there prevalent." 

 He favored me with the following letter, which 

 I desire to communicate to bee-keepers generally, 

 through the columns of the Bienenzeitung. 



He writes under date of March 5, 1870. — 

 " There are two species of honey bees found in 

 Abyssinia. The one is the domestic or small 

 Egyptian bee ; the other, the still more diminu- 

 tive wild bee, somewhat resembling a large 

 winged ant. The former abounds in the coun- 

 try, the latter is conii^aratively rare, not being- 

 cultivated. In general the flora of Abyssinia 

 offers to the bees the most ample pasturage, and 

 accordingly honey is abundant in that country. 

 There are three honey harvests annually, and 

 the bee-keeper calculates on obtaining about 

 sixteen pounds of honey on each occasion, or 

 forty-eight pounds a year from every gaff or 

 colony. The first harvest occurs in Noveniber, 

 the second in February, and the third in July — 

 the honey differing according to the season. 

 That obtained in November, immediately after 

 the close of the rainy season, when pasturage is 

 rich and ample, is bright-yellow, transparent, 

 with an aromatic sweetish bitter taste. Peculiar 

 sanative qualities are ascribed to this honey. 

 That procured in February is dark brown and 

 lias a raw taste. Not much of it is eaten, as it 

 is generally used for making wine. That ob- 

 tained in July is yellowish or croam-colored, 

 oftentimes snow-white, and is called virgin 

 honey. Most of this is produced in the valleys 

 and low grounds. 



At harvesting, not much honey is left in the 

 hives for the use or support of the bee. Usually 

 all of it is taken, and the bees left to provide for 

 themselves. The cream-colored or white honey, 

 which sjieedily candies in earthen iars, is in part 

 eaten and in part dissolved in water and used as 

 a drink. It is also boiled with milk, and is then 

 regarded as nutritious for tlie young folks. On 

 the whole not much honey is eaten in Abyssinia, 

 the greater part being used in the preparation 

 of wine (Pets7i), in the following manner : Take 

 one part of honey to six parts of water, mix well, 

 and add thereto 5 part of the leaves of the Gesho 

 tree {RlMmnus pauciflora) after having toasted 

 them somewhat on a hot plate. Mix again, and 

 expose the mass, in an earthen jug, to a moder- 

 ate temperature. The Gesho leaves will sjieedily 

 bring on fermentation, and in the course of eight 

 days the saccharine matter of the honey will be 

 converted into spirit, which indicate the ripena^s 

 of the wine, whereupon it is used as a drink. 

 When well made its taste is somewhat like that 

 of good cider. In Abyssinia none but the no- 

 bility arc i)ermitted to drink wine ; but as Abys- 

 sinian pride converts every Abyssinian into a 

 nobleman, the consumi)tion of wine, in that 

 country, is enormous. Some, whose interest it 

 is to intoxicate their guests quickly, use Gerona 

 or Zaste leaves instead of those of Gesho ; but 

 those leaves are evidently of a noxious quality, 



causing headache and vomiting among those who 

 drink wine thus made. Wax is prepared only 

 after the wine had become ripe, which is then 

 passed through a filter or sieve whereby the wax 

 is retained. It is then melted and made into 

 tapers or candles, or sold for embalming the 

 dead. 



The tame or domestic bee is found everywhere 

 in Abyssinia, though it seems to prefer districts 

 elevated about 7,000 feet above the level of the 

 sea. The hives are made by 'the countrymen 

 themselves of narrow thin slices or strips of bam- 

 boo. They are cylindrical in shape, three feet 

 long and fifteen or twenty inches in diameter, 

 and closed at one end. These are coated inside 

 with a plaster of cow dung, and when dry are 

 ready for service. Tlie bees are introduced in 

 them in the usual manner, and left undisturbed 

 till the time of harvest. The hives are never set 

 in rows or groups, but in isolated i:)Ositions 

 around trees and rocks and on the roofs of houses. 

 The supply of pasturage is very diversified, as 

 vegetation is not only luxuriant but multifarious, 

 though growing wild. In October, when the face 

 of nature seems veiled in one mass of flowers, 

 the wearisome monotonovis yellow i;>redominates 

 as far as the eye can range. This is the color of 

 the then blooming oil producing plants — over- 

 whelming all other hues. Clover, rape, and the 

 blossoms of fruit trees are abundant in season. 

 Where the Euphorbeacese abound the honey 

 gathered from the blossoms by the bees is of a 

 poisonous quality 



The wild or quite diminutive bee is entirely 

 distinct from the tame or domestic. It is much, 

 smaller in size, and also differs in form, much re- 

 sembling the ant. It builds its nest in the ground, 

 at a depth of ten or twelve inches, leaving only a 

 single opening or entrance, so narrow that not 

 more than one bee can pass or repass at a time. 

 Its comb is constructed like that of the common 

 wasp. It produces a honey much in demand 

 and highly prized. It is dark brown in color, 

 very liquid, and has an acid, astringent, j'et not 

 unpleasant taste. It is considered a panacea, 

 and used in cases of infiammation of the throat, 

 croup, and scrofulous ailments. It acts as a mild 

 purgative, strengthens the stomach, promotes 

 digestion, and is thought to possess sirigular 

 curative qualities. The best medicine which any 

 Abyssinian physician can prepare for the sick is 

 a compound of one part fifty year old butter a,nd 

 two parts of the wild bee's honey ! It is called 

 Tassme — which when well mixed, warmed, and 

 drank by the patient re-establishes his health — 

 such at least is the faith of the Abyssinian. 



Kaysek, Pastor. 

 Nieder-Weisel, May, 1870. 



Every colony which has a new queen should be 

 watched, in order that the apiarian may be sea- 

 sonably appri.sed of her loss, and take steps to 

 supply another. 



There is always some risk in making a very 

 large colony, that they will build an excess of 

 drone comb, if the season is very propitious for 

 gathering honey. 



