222 



Phyfical and Mtfcellaneous 



Hirtms' 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 Day, for 

 the greater Eafe and Convenience of the Inhabitants. For it 

 cannot be fuppofed that the antient Nomades, any more than 

 the prefent ^r^^^, would be at the Expence of ereding Store- 

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

 beferved with Thefe, at every Station, where they encamped to 

 gather in their Harveft. 

 The forts of Bcans, Lentils, and Gar'vamos, (the latter of which is the 

 ^'^^''- Cicer or Cbicb Tea) are the chief Species of Pulfe that are cul- 

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

 in the Gardens only of the feveral Chriflian Merchants. They 

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

 Beans. 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 Difl;in6lions, 

 Lentils. during the Spring. After them. Lentils, and Gar'V)amoSy be- 

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

 fame Manner with Beans, dillblving eaiily into a Mafs, and 

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

 was the Red Pottage v^\i\chEfau exchanged for His Birth-right * 

 Garvancos ^^^ from whcnce Hc was called Edom. Garvamos are drefled 

 and prepared in a different manner. They never foften into 

 a Pulp, like the other Kinds of Pulfe, by boy ling; and are not 

 therefore ferved up alone, but are ft rawed only over CiJ^^^T^d", 

 Vtllouue and other Difties. For they are in the greateft Repute 

 and Demand, when Parched; being then a favourite Morfel 

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

 Street of the Eaftern Cities, feveral Copper Panns and Ovens 

 contrived for this Purpofe : the Gar'vamos lofing hereby their 

 Leb-iebby, old Name, and afliiming That of Leh-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 m ^riftophanes : neither is there any 



I Eft in Africa confuetudo incolarutn, ut in agris & in omnibus fere villis, fub terra 

 fpecus, condendi frumenti gratia, clam habeant ; atque id propter bella maxime, hollium- 

 que fubitum adventum, prsparent. Htrt, BeU. /ifric. 5- S7- 2 Gen. 2^. 30. and 34, 

 3 Tam friftum ego ilium reddam, quam friftum eft Cicer, Plant, in Bacch. 4. f. v. 7. 

 ArSfonimr liftSivdv. Arifioph. ia Pace. 



Other 



