Book I. 



AGRICULTURE IN AFRICA. 



183 



Subsect. 6. Of the present State of Agriculture on the Eastern Coast of Africa, and in the 



African Islands. 



1140. Of the various countries on the eastern coast cf Africa the chief is Mocaranga, 

 the agriculture of which may be considered as a specimen of that of the savage tribes of 

 the other states The climate is temperate, though the mountains called Supata, or the 

 spine of the world, forming a great chain from north to south, are perpetually covered 

 with snow ; the air clear and salubrious ; and the soil fertile and well watered, so that its 

 pastures feed a great number of cattle, more valued by the inhabitants than their gold. 

 The inland parts of the country, however, are sandy, dry, and barren. The products of 

 the country on the coast, are rice, millet, and maize, but no wheat ; sugar canes and 

 cotton are found both wild and cultivated. They are without the ox and horse, but 

 elephants, ostriches, and a great variety of wild animals abound in the forests. Accord- 

 ing to the doubtful accounts of this country, the king, on days of ceremony, wears a little 

 spade hanging by his side as an emblem of cultivation. 



1141. The Island of Madagascar is celebrated for its fertility, and the variety of its 

 productions. Its climate is mild and agreeable ; and the surface of the country is 

 divided into the eastern and western provinces by a range of mountains. The summits 

 of these mountains are crowned with lofty trees of long duration, and the low grounds 

 are watered by torrents, rivers, and rivulets, which flow from them. The agricultural 

 products are rice, cotton, indigo, sugar, pulse, the yam, banana, cocoa, pepper, ginger, 

 turmeric, and a variety of other fruits and spices. There are a great number of rare 

 fruits and esculent plants, and many curious woods. Oxen and flocks of sheep abound ; 

 but there are no horses, elephants, lions, or tigers. The culture is very imperfect, the 

 soil and the excellence of the seasons supplying the place of labour and skill. 



1142. The Mauritius, or Isle of France, is a productive island, chiefly indebted to the 

 industry of the French, who have introduced there most of the grains, roots, and fruits 

 of other parts of the world, all of which seem to thrive. The climate is excellent, and 

 similar to that of the Bourbon and Canary Islands. The surface is mountainous towards 

 the sea coast, but within land there are many spots both level and fertile. The soil is, 

 generally speaking, red and stony. The agricultural products are numerous. A crop 

 of maize, succeeded by one of wheat, is procured in one season from the same field. The 

 rice of Cochin China is extensively cultivated ; the manioc, or cassava (Jatropha Manilwt) 

 of Brazil ; sugar, which is the chief product for export ; cinnamon, clove, and nutmeg 

 trees, &c. Oranges, citrons, and guavas abound; and pine-apples are said to grow 

 spontaneously. Many valuable kinds of woods are found in the forests ; and on the 

 banks of the rivers are fed the flocks and herds of the country. 



1 143. The Isle of Bourbon differs little in its natural and agricultural circumstances 

 from tiiat of the Mauritius. 



1 144. St. Helena is a rugged, but beautiful island, occupied by a few farmers, chiefly 

 English. Their chief productions are cattle, hogs, and poultry ; and when the India 

 ships arrive every house becomes a tavern. 



1145. The Cape Verd Islands are, in general, hot and unhealthy as to climate, and 

 stony and barren as to soil. Some, however, produce rice, maize, bananas, oranges, 

 cotton, and sugar-canes, with abundance of poultry. 



1 146. The Canary Islands having been subject to Spain for many centuries, the agri- 

 culture of the parent country prevails throughout. The climate is temperate, and the soil 

 generally rich. The stock of the farm belongs to the pro- 

 prietor of the soil, who lends it to the cultivator, on 

 condition of getting half of the produce. The products 

 are, wheat, barley, rice, oats, flax, anise seeds, coriander, 

 the mulberry, grape, cotton, sugar-cane, dragon's-blood tree 

 ( Dracaena), and a variety of esculent plants and fruits. ^& 

 The celebrated Canary wine is made chiefly in the islands \^ff 

 of Tenerifte and Canary. Potatoes have been introduced 

 within the last fifty years, and now constitute the chief 

 food of the inhabitants. The archil (Roccella tinctoria) 

 [fig. 156. a), a moss used in dyeing, grows wild on all the 

 rocks ; and kali Salscla Kali) (fg.156. b), from which soda 

 is extracted, is found wild on the sea-shore. The roots of the 

 male fern (Pteris aquilina) are, in times of scarcity, ground 

 into flour, and used as food. The live stock of the 

 Canaries consists of cattle, sheep, horses, and asses ; and 

 the well-known Canary birds, with a great variety of others, /d(£& 

 abound in the woods. O-r^SSZ^ 



1 147. The Island of Madeira is chiefly celebrated for its wine. It is the boast of the 

 islanders, that their country produces the best wheat, the purest sugar, and the finest 



N 4 



