264 Agricultural and Land produce of Shoa. £No. 148. 



dispersion of the numerous rills which trickle down the mountain 

 side. The valleys in the low country are completely intersected with 

 tiny canals, and the extent of ground, which by a judicious opening 

 of artificial trenches, is watered by these small runnels is surpris- 

 ing. 



32. But the divisions of the field are neither neatly made, nor care- 

 fully kept in order ; there is no levelling of the ground, and no raised 

 banks to enclose the smaller plots, in the preservation of which con- 

 sists the perfection of this system, and in consequence the water flows 

 very irregularly, entirely floating some of the lower parts of the 

 field, whilst the more elevated are left destitute of the requisite 

 moisture. 



33. At all convenient spots where the banks are level with the 

 stream, a few rocks are rudely placed in the water, jutting out a few 

 paces from the bank, and by this simple contrivance, a sufficiency of 

 fluid is diverted from the overflowing stream. 



The water-course, which in Amharic is denominated " the water 

 ladder," is elaborately built with loose stones and much and carefully 

 supported in difficult places by wooden buttresses. These canals are 

 built and kept in repair by the united efforts of all who desire benefit 

 to their lands ; but the tribute paid to the governor being taken ac- 

 cording to the value of the ground, the superior location to the mid- 

 dle class is of no advantage whatever, but merely entails a greater 

 portion of labour. 



34. A moderately dry season is reckoned the most favorable for a 

 superabundant crop of wheat and barley, but beans and jewarree, cotton, 

 grain and oil require a plentiful rain. A return from the field of twenty- 

 one times the quantity of deposited seed on the high land, and of thir- 

 ty-four in the valley, is considered a most excellent crop for wheat, 

 barley and all other grains, with the exception of jewarree ; whilst a bad 

 season reduces the produce to ten or twelve in the former, and fifteen 

 or twenty in the latter situation. 



35. Abyssinia, however, is happy in a most copious supply of water, 

 (the rains descending twice during the year,) in the flooding of all the 

 rivers and streams, and the complete breaking of the entire earth. The 

 " rain of bounty" commences in February and lasts for one month, 

 and the " rain cf covenant/' commencing in June, pours down with 



