THE EQUATORIAL ZONE. 319 



It is very interesting to trace, in the accounts which tra- 

 vellers give of some parts of the eastern side of Africa which 

 are included in the Equatorial Zone, a general resemblance 

 in the vegetation to that of. the western portion. One re- 

 markable difference is however to be noticed, in our finding 

 the Vine growing wild at a place called Axum, in Abyssinia, 

 about 14 10' north lat. and 38 45' east long.; the grapes 

 grow "in sufficient quantities for making wine, and might 

 succeed admirably if cultivated, from the nature of the cli- 

 mate and soil."* 



The same kind of park-like appearance which character- 

 izes some parts of Western Africa occurs sometimes on the 

 eastern side. We read of the country to the west of that 

 just mentioned being "generally hilly and tolerably well 

 wooded, of shady valleys and extensive cornfields, of a road 

 running through hilly and rocky country, and winding 

 through woods of Acacias and other shrubs ; then, by way 

 of contrast, sandy districts occur, covered with large bushes, 

 sometimes scattered, sometimes thick together, and 

 forming an almost impassable jungle; or a vast, open, 

 grassy plain is described, the grass of which is like dry hay, 

 with " apparently a great variety of flowers growing amongst 

 * From ' Life in Abyssinia,' by Mansfield Parkyns, Esq. 



