1844.] Agricultural and Land produce of Shoa. 271 



has flourished for ages in wild profusion over all the mountains, and 

 was thence transported, five hundred years ago, by an enterprising 

 trader to the coast of Arabia. In Shoa Proper, the cultivation is 

 directly interdicted, as savouring too strongly of the abhorred Maho- 

 medan ; and although the plant grows strong and healthy in the 

 proper situations, the Christian inhabitant is debarred from this re- 

 freshing and valuable produce. In the bordering districts, however, 

 subject to the despot, the restriction is not enforced ; the plantations are 

 numerous, and among all the Galla tribes, there is a never-failing sup- 

 ply of the sober berry. 



55. Planted before the rains, the seed soon appears above ground, 

 and when six months old, the seedling is transferred to take the place 

 of some old and decayed tree. Water and the manure of sheep are 

 plentifully supplied, and the crop, which from a full bearing tree is 

 generally from thirty to forty pounds, is gathered in March and April. 

 The shrub averages from eight to ten feet in height, the foliage is dark 

 and shining, and the branches are thickly studded with fruit. It 

 takes six years to arrive at full maturity, although producing a slight 

 crop in the second season ; it grows luxuriantly in any sheltered situa- 

 tion in the vallies, delighting in the soil which has been gradually 

 washed down from the adjacent heights, produced by a decomposition 

 of the trap rock. 



56. The berries are in the first instance of a dark green, which 

 becomes red before pulling, and at the same time, a whitish milky- 

 looking pulp called " gullabroo," fills up the place between the cuti- 

 cle and seed ; after the crop is shaken and gathered from the branches, 

 it is spread out in the sun until the pulp dries upon the berry ; 

 the seeds are kept one month in the sun, before being extracted from 

 the pulp, and during the drying operation are never placed in the 

 house, but kept freely ventilated outside ; they are afterwards packed in 

 dry leather bags, and carried to the market. The seeds intended for 

 the plantation are retained enclosed in the dry pulp, and are planted 

 by the hand-full in a small plot, which is carefully manured and well- 

 watered. The " gullaba" is sold separately from the bean, and is often 

 used mixed with the decoction of the " chaat" 



57. The ruler of Hurrur does not suffer any importation of coffee 

 into his own dominions ; neither from Shoa nor from the country of 



2 R 



