1844.] Agricultural and Land produce of Shoa. 255 



ing nature are entirely unknown, the capabilities of the country are 

 not taken due advantage of, and unless some European power inter- 

 feres for good with the strong hand, a great length of time must in- 

 evitably elapse before the habits and prejudices of this uncivilized 

 nation be overcome for its own benefit. 



6. The climate of the Abyssinian mountains and table land is alto- 

 gether favorable for cultivation; here there is no winter, 



" Such as when birds die 



In the deep forests, and the fishes lie 

 Stiffened in the translucent ice." 



Neither does the sun blaze in malignant light on the head of the 

 husbandman, nor do burning blasts unseasonably wither the crops ; 

 but the coolness of the mountain breeze is pleasant and refreshing, 

 and the timely cessation of the rain allows a healthful rest to vegeta- 

 tion, while its periodical return, soon produces the usual displays of 

 young shoots and budding flowers. 



7. The seasons are regular, and the atmospheric changes so distinct- 

 ly marked, that the inhabitants are enabled to calculate when the 

 rains will commence and when they will cease, and are thus fully 

 acquainted with the amount of labour to be performed, before the 

 arrival of the stated period. The rain of " bounty," and the rain of 

 " covenant," are each in their turn taken advantage of by the hus- 

 bandman, and immediately after these down-pourings, nature who 

 had remained bound up in the rigidity of the preceding drought, 

 bursts forth into a thousand interesting forms; the pastures and 

 meadows are clothed in cheering green, the hills and dales adorned 

 with myriads of beautiful flowers, and the sides of the mountains 

 appear one sheet of the most luxuriant cultivation. 



8. The soil is fertile, and without artificial manures or any great 

 expenditure of bodily fatigue and exertion produces a plentiful sup- 

 ply of food for man and beast; but notwithstanding all these local 

 advantages the ignorant Abyssinian has hardly emerged from the 

 first rudiments of the art of husbandry, and although nature has been 

 so prodigal, the prejudiced inhabitant has taken little thought to 

 benefit his condition by a proper use of her gifts and favours. 



9. Every thing in the climate of Africa is in extremes, but bar- 

 renness and fertility of soil border upon each other with a degree of 



2p 



