78 APPENDIX. [sect. 



Botany. 



" Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit 

 tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself, upon the 

 earth : and it was so." Gen. i. II. 



In connexion with this science we can only mention the 

 new, or greatly-important species of plants brought to light by 

 Dr Livingstone in Africa. For the botanist, and. the naturalist 

 in general, there is a rich harvest in the newly-explored re- 

 gions. 



This is indigenous in Africa. It has been 

 raised in the Portuguese colonies for many years 

 for the purpose of yielding sugar. In the interior regions just 

 opened by our traveller it is growing both wild and under 

 cultivation. The only use at present made of it by the natives 

 of these parts is for chewing. Both theMakololo and Balonda 

 use it largely in this way. The whole district watered by the 

 Zambesi is suited to its growth. 



Cotton and sugar are the two mainsta} r s of 

 American slavery, yet both flourish around the 

 native homes of those very slaves transported across the Atlan- 

 tic to feed that wicked traffic. Cotton not alone grows in the 

 Portuguese possessions on both sides of the continent, but also 

 all along the course of the Zambesi. Two species of it are 

 found on the banks of the Zouga and of Lake Ngami. The 

 Barotse valley, and other immense flats of alluvial soil, are 

 adapted for its cultivation. The cotton-tree is perennial in 

 Angola. The people generally spin cotton-yarn with a spindle 

 and distaff, after the manner of the ancient Egyptians. 



c ff This is much prized by the Makololo. Im- 



mense tracts of central South- Africa are suited for 

 its culture. It is not indigenous to Africa, but grows on both 

 coasts, having been originally planted by the Jesuit mis- 

 sionaries. 



