TOBACCO IN AFRICA. 361 
The tobacco plant is also cultivated in other parts of Africa 
besides Algiers. In Egypt and Nubia it is grown to a con- 
siderable extent, as well as by most of the native tribes of 
the South-west. Among some tribes it forms an important 
article of trade, and serves the purpose of money or its repre- 
sentative. ‘The natives are partial to the plant, and devotedly 
attached to smoking. Little patches may be seen near their 
huts, on which they lavish their attention and care. In some 
parts of Africa tobacco grows to a very great height. Liv- 
ingstone gives an account of a variety that attained an 
altitude much higher than the American plant. Several 
varieties are cultivated, some of them resembling the Shiraz 
and Latakia, while most of it is said to be similar to Virginia 
tobacco, only larger. With careful culture the plant would 
doubtless thrive in 
most parts of Afri- 
ca, as the soil is 
light and the sea- 
son usually favor- 
able. Though the 
. heatis extreme the 
plant flourishes 
even in the hottest: 
» part of the season, 
and attains a de- 
gree of perfection 
corresponding to 
the labor bestowed 
by the natives in 
cultivating. Their manner of curing is simply by drying the 
leaves, and is not suited to the taste of any besides them- 
selves. In Egypt, Algiers, and Nubia, the plant is culti- 
vated with more care, and a better system of curing is 
adopted than by the natives of the interior. Burton gives 
an account of the cultivation of tobacco by the natives of 
East Africa :— : : : £ 
“ Tobacco grows plentifully in the more fertile regions 0 
TOBACCO FIELD IN AFRICA. 
