THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. 567 
an circumference. They have, when ripe, the appearance 
of {mall canes. The inhabitants make no fort of ufe of 
this grain in any period of its growth: the uppermoft thin 
hufk of it is beautifully variegated with a changeable pur- 
ple colour; the tafte is perfectly good. I often made the 
ameal into cakes in remembrance of Scotland. 
Tue Abyffinians never could relifh thefe cakes, which they 
faid were bitter, and burnt their ftomachs, as alfo made them 
thirfty. I do, however, believe this is the oat in its original 
ftate, and that it is degenerated everywhere with us. The 
foil of this country is a fine black mould, in appearance like 
to that which compofes our gardens. The oat feems to de- 
light in a moift, watery foil; and, as no underwood grows 
under the fhadow of the trees, the plough pafies without 
interruption. As there is likewife no iron in their plough, 
(for is it all compofed of wood) the furrow is a very flight 
one, nor does the plough reach deep enough to be entang- 
led with the roots of trees; but it is the north part of Mait- 
fha, however, that is ‘chiefly in culture; fouth of the Kelti 
allis pafture ; a large number of horfes is bred here yearly, 
for it is the cuftom among the Galla to be all horfemen or 
graziers. 
Axx Aroofii is finely watered with fmall ftreams, though the 
Affar is the largeft river we had feen except the Nile; it was 
about 170 yards broad and two feet deep, running over a bed- 
of large ftones ; though generally through a flat and level 
country, it is very rapid, and after much rain {carcely pafl- 
able, owing to the height of its fource in the mountains 
of the Agows ; its courfe, where we forded it, is from fouth 
Vor, UL. | aa to 
