1844.] Agricultural and Land produce of Shoa. 261 



the king, they are allowed to work two days on their own lots of land, 

 whilst the labour of the third day is appropriated to his majesty's 

 property. The produce of the different allotments, is however quite 

 sufficient for their subsistence, and for the establishment which they 

 are obliged to entertain The possession of a donkey, a pair of bullocks, 

 a slave, and a woman to grind grain being absolutely indispensable, 

 as all the various offices of farmer and miller, from the preparation of the 

 ground, to the sacking of the flour, are performed by this class. A king's 

 scribe is alone retained in each district, to enter into his books the 

 amount received into the royal magazines under his charge. 



22. The governors armed with the omnipotent authority of the 

 despot, each play the autocrat in their own domains, and fashion their 

 habits and privileges after those of their royal master. Their fields 

 are cultivated in the same manner as those of his majesty, with the 

 additional facility of enforcing the oppressed inhabitants to grant, for 

 a very inadequate compensation in grain, many days labour in each 

 of the great agricultural operations of ploughing, sowing, reaping, win- 

 nowing, &c. &c. 



23. All other persons possessing ground, are obliged to pay a certain 

 fluctuating tribute to the governor, according to the will and option 

 of that great officer of the state, in grain, honey, farm-stock, cloth, or 

 salt pieces; and as his majesty besides taking from his governor 

 as an inauguration fee from four to six hundred crowns, is (unless 

 presents are frequently and voluntarily made) continually sending 

 for cattle, and honey, and sheep, in quantities, these offerings fall 

 hard upon all classes ; for should the governor give entirely from his 

 own means, he would find himself soon totally impoverished ; and 

 should he tax the people too roughly in the preparation of this gift, 

 complaints would invariably reach the royal ear, which are certain to 

 strip the offender of his government and remaining property. 



24. The fields are not measured, but merely divided by means of small 

 ditches and stones, and on the face of the mountains are generally 

 of so diminutive a size, that it has been found necessary to enact an 

 ordinance regarding the accidental falling of seed upon a neigh- 

 bour's field, and it has been decreed by the king, that such being the 

 will of Providence, no squabbling, nor disturbance shall henceforward 

 take place, but that each shall enjoy in peace what is found in his own 



