44 



COPrEE. 



A camel load is about 400 lbs = 26 frazlas or bales. 



G.C. Coinniassecs. 



The price of ditto inland . . . .31 41 

 At Mocha, duty to Dewla uncertain . 



Bake fee one butsha on each frazla ... 25 



Weighing and clerk's fee ... . 20 



Packing ...... 40 



Camel hire to the coast . . . .12 50 



Cost from Sana to Mocha . . . .44 15 



Coffee is broiiglit into the Sana market in December and Ja- 

 nuary from tlie surrounding districts. 

 The varieties are — 



1. Sherzee, best — price 1 G.C. frazla 2o butsha. 



2. Ouceaime. 



3. Muttanee. 



4. Sharrazee. 



5. Hubbal from Aniss. 



6. Sherissee from ditto — price per frazla 1 G.C. 15 B. 



The nearest place to Sana where the coffee tree grows, is at 

 Arfish, half a day distant. Attempts have been made to introduce 

 the shrub in the garden of the Imaum at Sana, but without success, 

 ascribed to cold. Kesher is mote prized at Sana ; the best is 

 Anissea, and is sold at a higher price than other coffee, namely, 

 g. c. 12 per 100 lbs. ; inferior, at from 4, 5, and 6. 



fia,in falls in Sana three times in the year. 1st. In January, in 

 small quantities. 2nd. Beginning of June, when it falls for eight 

 or ten days. By this time the seed is sown, and the cultivators 

 look forward to the season with anxiety. 3rd. In July, when it 

 falls in abundance. A few farmers defer sowing till this period, 

 but it is unusual when they expect rain in Jime, 



The coffee plant is mostly found growing near the sides of 

 mountains, valleys, and other sheltered situations, the soil of 

 which has been gradually washed down from the surrounding 

 heights, being that which forms its source of support. This is 

 afforded by the decomposition of a species of claystone (slightly 

 phosphoritic) which is found irregularly disposed in company with 

 a few pieces of trap-rocks, amongst which, on approaching Sana 

 from the soutliward, basalt is found to preponderate. The clay 

 stone is only found in the more elevated districts, but the debris 

 finds a ready wa,y into the lower country by the numerous and 

 steep gorges which are conspicuous in every direction. Ae it is 

 thrown upon one side of the valley, it is carefully protected by 

 means of stone walls, so as to present to the traveller the appear- 

 ance of terraces. The plant requires a moist soil, though much 

 rain does not appear necessary. It is always found in greater 

 luxuriance at places where there is no spring. The tree at times 

 looks languid, and half withered ; an abundant supply of water to 

 the root of the plant seems necessary for the full growth and per- 

 fection of its bean. 



Progress of Cultivation in India. — There are said to be ten 

 varieties of the coffee, but only one is found indigenous to India, 

 and it is questionable if this is not the Mocha species introduced 



