Richard (2) observes that ' like all other cereals, TefE presents- 

 several varieties, some depending on its relative height, others on. 

 its general colour. Thus there is : — 

 " 1. Green Teff : or Tchangar. 

 " 2. White Teff : or Ttsada Tthef. 

 " 3. Red Teff : Beneigne Tthef. 

 " 4. Purple Teff : Kqhaie Tthef. 

 " These dilferent varieties are aj cultivated alike." 



ORIGIN. 



TefE is a native of the Uplands of Ab yssinia , where it is culti- 

 vated as a staple cereal crop by tlieTractives. ^Yet, unlike other 

 aboriginal cereal crops, such as Kaffir-corn, Rapoko, and Pearl- 

 millet, Teff appears to have been entirely unknown, up to this day, 

 to the African tribes outside of the narrow confines of the 

 Abyssinian Empire. Kaffir-corn, on the other hand, is known and 

 grown from one end of the Continent to the other and from the 

 Atlantic to the Indian Oceans, While Maize, unknown to the Old 

 Worxd before the conquest of America, is nearly as well-known and 

 wide.y distributed. Teff is most easiix,^rownj_and is veEy_prQlificj 

 how comes it, then, that it was iiotM!rrie3"By the Bantu races 

 from one end of Africa to the other? This problem gives rise to- 

 much speculation. Lack of palatabiliiy can scarcely be considered 

 an adequate reason, for Rapoko (Eleusine Coracana) is said to be 

 far less palatable, yet it is grown by native tribes from the banks 

 of the JNile, southwards to the warmer parts of the Pietersburg 

 District of the Northern Transvaal. 



In this connection it is significant to note that the Transvaal 

 Native is already beginning to grow Teff hay for winter feed for 

 his cattle. A plot of about half ah acre was grown this season 

 (1915-16) by a native on my farm, quite voluntarily — in fact 1 can 

 only surmise that the seed was stoieh from my own store room. 



It is strange, considering the trade which existed in ancient 

 times between India, Arabia and th^ east Coast of Africa, that 

 Teff never accompanied or followed Kaffir-corn, Pearl Millet and 

 Rapoko to India (assuming, as. seems probable, that these crops 

 were introduced from Africa to Asia), or if it ever was taken to 

 Asia, that it was never adopted there as a farm crop. 



WHERE GROWN IN ABYSSINIA. 



Richard (2) states that Teff is cultivated in a great number of 

 Provinces in .Abyssinia, at altitudes varying between six thousand 

 and seven thousand feet above sea-level. Bruce (1) observes that 

 it is not produced in the low or hot country, the KoUa, that is, in 

 the borders of it ; for no grain can grow, asl have already said, in 

 the Kolla or Mazaga itself ; but in place of Teff, in these borders, 

 there grows a black grain called Tocusso [Meusine CoTacana'\'\. . . . 

 Of this a very black bread is made, ate only by the poorest sort ; 

 but though it makes worse bread, I think it makes better bouza." 



According to an anonymous writer in the Kew BuUetin (10), 

 " Teff is . . ^ cultivated for the sake of its grain, all over Abyssinia." 



Both Teff-hagaiz and Teff-tseddia are cultivated, according to 

 Coulbeaux (4), in the warm regions of the " Konalla," or lowlands 

 at an altitude of from 1,300 to 1,800 metres, and especially in the 

 temperate regions of the " Ouayne-Dega," at an altitude of about 

 1,800 to 2,400 metres. 



