1844.] Agricultural and Land produce of Shoa. 283 



for a mule are consequently higher, and the care taken of the animal 

 proportionally greater. Whilst the horse is allowed to run in his 

 pasture ground during all the seasons of the year, and scantily sup- 

 plied with old straw, on the failure of the herbage, the mule is fed 

 upon barley and the best s tef fodder; is a continual inmate of the 

 master's dwelling, sheltered from the cold bleak wind, and living on 

 most familiar terms with the other members of the family. 



87- Horses and mules are afflicted with few diseases in these Alpine 

 regions; strangles called " faroo" and worms in the ear called 

 " dhadick" being the only local diseases to be feared. The former is 

 cured by fumigating the nostrils with dung, pea straw and the bark 

 of the " kolynal" (" Euphorbia heptagona,") and the latter by the 

 application of oil and the fruit of the " cesso" which is a most pow- 

 erful purgative medicine in general use among the natives for the 

 expulsion of the worms which their raw meat diet so freely engenders. 



88. The common breed of cattle which cover ihe plains in great 

 droves, is chiefly of a black colour, with long thick horns, short stout 

 legs, and deep carcases, weighing probably from 250 (two hundred 

 and fifty) to 400 (four hundred) pounds. The " sanza" so justly 

 celebrated for his immense horns, is a native of the Galla countries 

 to the northward, and is rarely met with in Shoa, except as curio- 

 sities among the royal herds. I have occasionally seen them among 

 the " Kureio Galla/' a monastic tribe dwelling in the plains to the 

 south-eastward of Efat. The horns are truly magnificent, stretching 

 up four feet in height, and spreading to a like distance in width be- 

 tween the tips. The animal is of a fine large breed, and has a wild 

 and noble appearance, carrying his well-defended head in a free posi- 

 tion, like the stag proud of his twelve tynes. 



89. During the rains and spring season, the cattle pick up a plenti- 

 ful support among the green hills and meadows ; but the verdure 

 of Abyssinia is very fleeting ; during the dry season the grass becomes 

 completely withered up and destroyed, and many cattle die from the 

 lean herd from sheer lack of pasture, as the grass and straw from the 

 winter fodder is scantily dealt out to the bullocks, and no shelter 

 whatever allowed them from the inclemencies of the weather. 



90. The cows, however, are fed on cotton seed, barley, salt and grass, 

 as their milk is a great article of food, and the butter is a valuable 



