244 



CEREALS. 



awahili Mtama, — an evident corruption, — is sown 

 in January and February, and ripens 6 nionths 

 afterwards. The wheat of the poorer Arabs, and 

 the oats of horses, it grows 18 feet high, but 

 the islanders have little leisure, except in the 

 poorest parts, to cultivate. Banyans, Arabs, and 

 "Wasawahili buy it in the Brava country, the 

 granary of Southern Arabia, on the sea-board 

 from Tanga to Mangao, and in some districts of 

 the near interior ; they retail it in Zanzibar at 

 large profits. Sesamum (the Hindustani Til or 

 Gingil, the Arabic Simsim), the commonest of the 

 oleaginous grains, of late demanded by the 

 French market, where the oil becomes huile 

 d' olives, is also brought from the Mainland, 

 especially from the northern ports, Lamu and its 

 neighbours, the Banadir or Haven- land. In 

 1859 the Island of Zanzibar exported 8,388,3G0 

 lbs, = £20,000. Besides this, the coast ports 

 shipped several cargos direct : formerly, East 

 Africa used to supply the Bed Sea with this 

 article. 



Maize (Muhindi) is a favourite article of 

 consumption, and a little is grown on the Island. 

 Bajri (MaweM, Panicum spicatum, Boxb.), the 

 small millet, a thin grain, inferior to that of 

 Cutch and Western India, is little cultivated. 



