48 A NATURALIST IN MID-AFRICA. 



babies are usually brought to be christened en- 

 wrapped in one. 



All kinds of rope, twine, &c, are made from the 

 stem, and the fibre is undoubtedly of most ex- 

 cellent quality. 



Wheat has been for some time grown in the 

 district. One of the large native chiefs has culti- 

 vated quantities to sell to Europeans — one of 

 those little facts that explains why one has a 

 belief in the future of the Waganda. It has also 

 been successfully grown by the French mission- 

 aries. The time of sowing must, however, be 

 carefully judged. If sown in the very first 

 show T ers of the rainy season, it is liable to be 

 destroyed by a week's drought, which not in- 

 frequently occurs at that period ; if sown in the 

 middle of the rains it will not ripen ; on the other 

 hand, if sown too late it is liable to be injured 

 by the dry season. In spite of this, however, the 

 prospects of its cultivation are distinctly favour- 

 able. 



Indian corn, and particularly millet, are the 

 most commonly grown cereals, and seem to do 

 fairly well. The swamps and alluvium of the 

 valleys appears to be naturally well suited for 

 rice, but, apparently through want of experience, 

 it has not so far succeeded. 



Coffee probably affords the most favourable pros- 

 pect of all. The- Uganda coffee is grown without 

 any care whatever, and is neither pruned nor looked 



