258 Agricultural and Land produce of Shoa. [No. 148. 



circumference, to the light elegant acacias which distil the much- 

 prized gum. 



16. The absolute necessity of taking due advantage of the appointed 

 season of rain, rather than any fixed purpose of economizing time 

 and labour, enforces some faint attempts at arrangement and division 

 of employment for the various months ; seed-time and harvest, however, 

 form the two great periods of exertion, and there are but few other 

 agricultural operations to mark the remaining seasons of the year. 

 Whilst not actually employed upon the ground, or when not compel- 

 led to attend the king on his military expeditions, the Abyssinian pea- 

 sant drives a wandering trade throughout the country, disposing of his 

 farm produce, horses, mules, asses, &c, or leads an idle life, with- 

 out holiday, or much amusement at home. 



J 7. The following table will serve as a register of work and wea- 

 ther in general accordance with Abyssinian custom and observance : — 



1841. 

 Teok. — January. 

 Fine cold dry weather, sow barley for the February rain, make 

 heaps of top parings, burn and plough in the ashes, gather in the 

 September crop of cotton. Great Military expedition. 

 Yekkateet. — February. 

 Rain of "bounty" from the 5th to 2d March; sow barley, peas, 

 beans, grain and wheat. 



Mugabeet. — March. 

 Fine weather from the 2d to 16th, heavy rain on the 17th, 23d, 

 24th and 25th ; sow barley and red wheat. 

 Maazia. — April. 

 Light shower during the month; 23d, two slight shocks of earth- 

 quake; sow cotton; gather in September crop of cotton. 

 Ginebate. — May. 

 Wind N. E. very strong and cold, rain towards the end of the 

 month ; sow juwaree and other grains in the valley. 



Sunnee. — June. 

 Occasional heavy storms of rain, hail and wind till the 25th, when 

 the rain of " covenant" regularly sets in. Gather the January crops 

 of barley, &c. ; sow teff, barley, wheat, juwaree, peas and beans ; shear 

 sheep, extract honey from the hives. Military expedition. 



