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



and more delicate species so prized for foreign exportation. " Chaat," 

 the Abyssinian tea plant, is a shrubby plant known already under 

 the appellation " Celastrus eudules," and belongs to Pentandria mono- 

 gynia, Linn, and to the natural family of " Celastrineae," or to that 

 sub-family " Rhamnea" which have in the flower the stamens alternat- 

 ing with the petals. The family Rhamneae; viz the genus Rhamnus, 

 itself supplies a substitute for tea to poor people in China, and is 

 known under the name of Rhamnus theozans. Our plant may be cha- 

 racterized as follows: frutex inermis, foliis oppositis, petiolatis oblon- 

 gis, servato dentatis glabris. Calys minimus, persistens. Petala, 5 

 Stamina 5, Petalis alternantia. Fructus superns, oblonga, bacca, 8 

 locularis, polyspermus vel abortive monospermus. Inflorescentia axil- 

 laris-cymosa, cymiredina stipulati. The plant supplying the Paraguay 

 tea is a species of Ilex, and belongs to the same family, Celastrinae, 

 sub order Aquifoliacese. 



74. The Lime tree grows wild in the forests, and seems to form a 

 favorite morsel for the elephant. It is also cultivated in the gardens, 

 and used by the inhabitants for many culinary purposes, as well as in 

 the preparation of leather, and the cleaning of metals. A species of 

 plantain, resembling in size the horse plantain of India, produces a 

 large description of luscious fruit in great abundance among the val- 

 lies, and from the wild species, a stout light cordage is manufactur- 

 ed from the exterior coarse fibres of the stem which rises to the height 

 of eight feet ; but the inner fibres are of a very fine texture indeed, 

 and might be used with advantage in the fabrication of stuff for 

 clothing. The Abyssinian flax, however, is of a good quality, although 

 at present only cultivated on the face of the mountains for the sake of 

 the seed, which is large and well filled ; the stalk is very short, as no 

 importance whatever is attached to the growth of the plant for other 

 purposes than that of extracting the oil. In a moist spot, the reverse 

 would take place, and from the fine appearance of the seeds it may 

 be presumed, that a lengthy fibre could be very easily produced in the 

 country. Peaches do not attain any size in their present localities; 

 and the vine is only to be met with in some of the gardens belonging 

 to the Abyssinian epicures. There are three kinds, a large red, a very 

 small currant, and a small yellow grape. But the fruit is harsh and 

 sour, it ripens in April, and as no care is taken of the plant in any of 



