Book I. 



AGRICULTURE IN AFRICA. 



171 



Sect. IV. Of the present Slate of Agriculture in Africa. 



1066. The continent of Africa, in point of agricultural as of political and ethical es- 

 timation, is the meanest of the great divisions of the earth; though in one corner of it 

 (Egypt) agriculture is supposed to have originated. The climate is every where hot, 

 and intensely so in the northern parts. The central parts, as far as known, consist of 

 ridges of mountains and immense deserts of red sand. There are very few rivers, inland 

 lakes, or seas, and indeed fully one half of this continent may be considered as either 

 desert or unknown. Some of the African islands are fertile and important, especially 

 Madagascar, Bourbon, Mauritius, &c. We shall take the countries of Africa in the 

 order of Abyssinia, Egypt, Mohammedan states of the north, western coast, Cape of 

 Good Hope, eastern coast, Madagascar and other isles. 



Subsect. 1. Of the present State of Agriculture in Abyssinia. 



1067. The climate of Abyssinia, though exceedingly various in different parts, is in 

 general temperate and healthy. The surface of the country is generally rugged and 

 mountainous ; it abounds with forests and morasses ; and it is also interspersed with 

 many fertile valleys and plains adapted both to pasture and tillage. The rivers are 

 numerous and large, and contribute much to general fertility. The soil is not natu- 

 rally good, being in general thin and sandy ; but it is rendered fertile and productive by 

 irrigation and the periodical rains. 



106S. The agricultural products are wheat, barley, millet, and other grains. They 

 cultivate the vine, peach, pomegranate, sugar cane, almonds, lemons, citrons, and 

 oranges ; and they have many roots and herbs which grow spontaneously, and their soil, 

 if properly managed, would produce many more. However, they make little wine, but 

 content themselves with the liquor which they draw from the sugar cane, and their 

 honey, which is excellent and abundant. They have the coffee tree, and a plant called 

 ensete, which produces an eatable nourishing fruit. The country also produces many 

 other plants and fruits adapted both for domestic and medicinal uses. Here is plenty 

 of cotton, which grows on shrubs like that of India. The forests abound with trees 

 of various descriptions, particularly the rock, baobob, cedar, sycamore, &c. 



1069. The live stock of Abyssinia includes horses, some of which are of a very fine 

 breed, mules, asses, camels, dromedaries, oxen of different kinds (fg. 138.), cows, 

 sheep, and goats ; and these constitute the 

 principal wealth of the inhabitants. Amongst 

 the wild animals, we may reckon the ante- 

 lope, the buffalo, the wild boar, the jackal, 

 the elephant, the rhinoceros, the lion, the 

 leopard, the hyaena, the lynx ; the ape and 

 baboon which, as well as the common rat, 

 are very destructive to the fields of millet ; 

 the zecora, or wild mule, and the wild ass ; 

 the jerboa, the fennic, ashkoko, hare, &c. 

 The hare, as well as the wild boar, is deemed 

 unclean, and not used as food. Bruce saw 

 no sparrows, magpies, nor bats ; nor many 

 water-fowl, nor any geese, except the golden 

 goose, or goose of the Nile, which is com- 

 mon in every part of Africa ; but there are snipes in the marshes. The locusts of this 

 country are very destructive ; they have also species of ants that are injurious ; but 

 from their bees they derive a rich supply. 



1070. The agriculture of Abyssinia is of far less use to the inhabitants than it might be, 

 for want of application and exertion. There are two, and often three, harvests in the 

 year ; and where they have a supply of water, they may sow in all seasons ; many of 

 their trees and plants retain their verdure, and yield fruit or flowers throughout the year ; 

 the west side of the tree blossoms first and bears fruit, then the south side, next the north 

 side, and last of all the east side goes through the same process towards the beginning of 

 the rainy seasons. Their pastures are covered with flocks and herds. They have grass 

 in abundance, but they neglect to make hay of it ; and therefore they are obliged to supply 

 this defect by feeding their cattle with barley, or some other grain. Notwithstanding 

 the plenty and frequent return of their crops, they are sometimes reduced almost to 

 famine^ either by the devastations of the locusts or grasshoppers which infest the country, 

 or by the more destructive ravages of their own armies, and those of their enemies. 



