222 Phyfical and MtfceUmeous 



Hirtius' acquainteth us that the Africans made ufe of thefe 

 Pits for the greater Security of their Provifions from an Ene- 

 my : but it is more probable , that they were contrived in 

 thofe earlier Ages, as They continue to be to this Dav, for 

 the greater Eafe and Convenience of the Inhabitants. For it 

 cannot be fuppofed that the antient NomadeSy any more than 

 the prefent Arahs, would be at the Expence of ereoling Store- 

 houses of Stone, when they might, at a much cheaper Rate, 

 be ferved with Thefe, at every Station, where they encamped to 

 gather in their Harveft. 

 The [arts of Bcans, Lentils, -AxAGar'Oamos, (the latter of which is the 

 ^'"'^'• C'lcer or Chkh Tea) are the c\{iti Species of Pulfe that are cul- 

 Pcafe. tivated in thefe Kingdoms. Peafe, 'till of late, were known 

 in the Gardens only of the feveral Οοήβιαπ Merchants. They 

 are fown with the firit Rains, and bloflbm in the latter End of 

 Bean?. February, or the beginning oi March. Beans are ufually full 

 podded at that Time ; and being boyled up with Oyl and 

 Garlick, are the principal Food, of Perfons of all Diftintlions, 

 Lentils. duriug the Spring. After them. Lentils, and Gar'OamoSy be- 

 gin to be gathered. The firit are prepared for eating in the 

 fame Manner with Beans, diifolving eafily into a Mafs, and 

 making a Pottage of the Colour of Chocolate. This we find 

 was the Red Pottage ^]ί{\ζ\\ΕΙαιι exchanged for His Birth-right ^ 

 and from whence He was called Edom. Garvan^os are dreiied 

 and prepared in a diiFerent manner. They never foften into 

 a Pulp, like the other Kinds of Pulfe, byboyling; and are not 

 therefore ferved up alone, but are itrawed only over Qifc a/owe, 

 Tillowe and other Diihes. For they are in the greateft Repute 

 and Demand, when Parched ; being then a favourite Morfel 

 to Perfons of all Ages and Diftinclions. There are in every 

 Street of the Eaftern Cities, feveral Copper Panns and Ovens 

 contrived for this Purpofe : the Gar-van^^os lofing hereby their 

 Leb-kbhy, old Name, and aiiliming That of Leb-lehhy This Method of 

 Parching them, feems to be of the greateft Antiquity. Tlautus ' 

 fpeaks of it as a Thing very common in His Time ; the like Ob- 

 fervation we meet with \\\ yirifio^hanes : neither is there any 



1 Eft in Afuca, confuctudo incolariim, ut in agris & in omnibus fere villis. Tub terra 

 fpecus, condcndi frumenti gratia, clam habeant j atqiie id propter bella maxime, holh'um- 

 t]uc fubitum adventiim, pr^eparent. Hirt. Bell, yifric. ?. 57. 2 Gcn.z^. 30. and 34. 

 3 Tarn friilum ego ilium reddam, quam fridum eft Cicer. Plaut. in Bacch. 4. y. v. 7. 

 ΑΫ^ακΊτα» 'ra(£ird«. /ir'tfiofh. in Pace. 



other 



Garvan90s, 



